The electronic edition
is a part of the UNC-CH
digitization project, Documenting the
American South. Any hyphens occurring
in line breaks have been
removed, and the trailing part of a word has been joined
to the preceding line.
All quotation marks
and ampersand have been transcribed as
entity references.
All double right and
left quotation marks are encoded as " and "
respectively.
All single right and
left quotation marks are encoded as '
and ' respectively.
Indentation in lines
has not been preserved.
Running titles have
not been preserved.
Spell-check and
verification made against printed text using Author/Editor
(SoftQuad) and Microsoft Word spell check programs.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

LC Subject Headings:

Blackford, John, 1771-1839 -- Diaries.

Ferry Hill Plantation (Md.)

Plantation life -- Maryland -- Washington County.

Plantation owners -- Maryland -- Diaries.

Washington County (Md.) -- Social life and customs.

Washington County (Md.) -- Biography.

Slavery -- Maryland -- Washington County.

1998-11-30,
Celine Noel and Wanda Gunther
revised TEIHeader and created catalog
record for the electronic edition.

CHAPEL HILL
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS
1961

PREFACE

In 1909 Ulrich Bonnell
Phillips published his Plantation and
Frontier Documents, which incidentally remains today the most important
single collection of published source documents on the plantation
regime of the pre-Civil War South, in which he defined a plantation
as "a unit in agricultural industry in which the laboring force was of
considerable size, the work was divided among groups of laborers who
worked in routine under supervision, and the primary purpose was in
each case the production of a special staple commodity for sale. The
laborers were generally in a state of bondage. Wage earners might be
employed; but for the sake of certainty in maintaining a constant and
even supply of labor from season to season, indented servants and negro
slaves were the commoner resort." He defined a farm as "an agricultural
unit in which the labor force was relatively small. There was no
sharp distinction between workman and supervisor. A less regular
routine was followed and the primary purpose was divided between
producing commodities for market and commodities for consumption
within the family. Farmers might hire help and might buy slaves. With
unfree labor as such, however, they had little or no vital
concern."1 These
definitions are generally accepted as correct but it should be noted that
there were plantations that had characteristics ascribed to the farm and
vice versa. For instance, some plantations did not grow a single major
staple for sale but produced a number of crops - grain, fruits, and livestock
- for sale, and used slave labor which was not worked in routine
under constant supervision.

Since 1909 many excellent journals and diaries of the rice, sugar,
and cotton plantations of the lower South have been published,
2 but there
has been a dearth of significant journals of combination grain, hay,
fruit, and livestock plantations of the Virginia-Maryland area. And it
is still true, as Phillips said in 1909, "On the subject of small farms....,

the reader must keep in mind that there is a hiatus in the documents."
3
It is a well know fact, however, that the farms constituted a most important
element in the general agricultural and economic life of the Old
South although they were overshadowed by, and attracted less attention
than, the large and more striking plantations.

It was my good fortune as editor of Henry Kyd Douglass, I Rode
with Stonewall (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press,
1940), to find in the attic at Ferry Hill Plantation a bound volume of a
journal of that plantation kept by the then owner, John Blackford, for
the year January 4, 1838, to January 15, 1839. This plantation, located
on the Maryland side of the Potomac River across from Shepherdstown,
Virginia (now West Virginia), had characteristics of both the plantation
and the farm as defined by Phillips. The regular labor force was slave
but the plantation produced no special major staple crop. Instead it grew
grain of various kinds, hay, fruits, potatoes, livestock and timber for
sale as well as home consumption. Mr. J. Howard Beckenbaugh, the
owner of Ferry Hill in 1942, deposited the journal and other papers
in the Southern Historical Collection of the University of North Carolina,
but withdrew them in 1954 and gave them to the newly established
Historical Society of Washington County in Hagerstown, Maryland. I
had made a copy of the journal while it was on deposit in the Southern
Historical Collection, and Mr. Beckenbaugh kindly gave his permission
for its publication.

The preparation of this document for publication presented a number
of editorial problems. There is ample evidence to show that Blackford
had kept a record of his plantation for many years, probably since 1816
when he purchased the ferry, but this document is the only part of the
record known to exist. Kept in a bound ledger about ten by fourteen
inches, the journal begins abruptly on January 4, 1838. It has no title,
but I have chosen to call it a "journal" rather than
a "diary." It was
written, not in response to spontaneous impulse to record the observations,
thoughts, and deeds of the author, but to record the day by day
happenings at Ferry Hill Plantation. It includes home life, the operation
of the ferry, and work in the fields, barns, and woods - in a word the
everyday life of the Blackford family, their slaves and hired workers, and
the coming and going of relatives and visitors.

Life at Ferry Hill was very different from that on a major staple
crop plantation where the laborers worked in gangs, in routine, and
under close supervision. The cultivation and harvesting of corn, wheat,
barley, oats, rye, clover, hay, and potatoes; the threshing and milling
of the grain; the daily feeding and care of cattle, horses, sheep and
hogs, and the slaughter of animals and curing of meats; the growing,

harvesting, and preservation of apples, and the manufacture of cider,
vinegar, and apple butter therefrom; the daily supervision of the ferry;
and the cutting of wood for fuel and timber for lumber and shingles for
sale, all of which took place at Ferry Hill, could not easily be carried
on by slave gangs in routine and under supervision. Consequently the
laborers at Ferry Hill worked individually with little or no supervision.
Nor were they assigned tasks to do. Blackford never employed an
overseer, he chose to manage the plantation himself and to give general
supervision to his slaves and hired laborers. But he did not, as a
small farmer would have done, work with his slaves. He did no manual
labor. It was his function to formulate policies and see that they were
carried out. Nor was Blackford and his plantation unique in this respect.
They were typical of many planters and plantations of the
Maryland-Virginia area.

The Ferry Hill Journal furnishes its own warranty of truth and
authenticity. It deals concretely, unconsciously, generally impersonally,
and in evident faithfulness with life as it was lived on the plantation.
Since Blackford was the supervisor as well as owner he not only saw
but experienced the life about which he wrote. Only twice during the
year was he absent from the plantation for a full day. On one occasion
he, some members of his family, and friends made a business and
pleasure trip of seven days' duration to Washington and Baltimore.
Again he and his invalid wife spent a week at one of the Virginia resort
springs. During these absences one of his sons, and a relative who
lived on the plantation, supervised the work. From them and from slaves
and hired workers Blackford gathered information to fill in the journal.

Blackford, an intelligent, well educated, and widely read man, made
no effort to use correct English in his journal. The entries were
hurriedly written for his own use, and he intended to transcribe them
into a more permanent journal. He generally wrote short notes, using
single words, phrases, clauses, including numerous abbreviations, instead
of complete sentences. His capitalization, spelling, and punctuation
or lack thereof are not only abominable but also maddening to the
reader. For instance in the spelling of the name of one of his close
friends and a frequent visitor at Ferry Hill there are at least four
variations. As editor I have chosen to reproduce faithfully the journal
as written; I have made no corrections, nor have I supplied missing
words and punctuation. After the reader has mastered Blackford's
original and unique writing practices in the first few pages he can
readily grasp the meaning of the erratic English construction.

In order to make the appearance of the printed version of the
journal more pleasing to the eye, and to enable the reader to grasp at a
glance the day of the month and the day of the week I have chosen to
insert the names of the months as chapter divisions and to give the date

and day as the key to each paragraph. In these two items only have
I departed from the original text. For the daily entry Blackford
generally gave the date followed by the day, e.g., 4th March. Sometimes
he reversed the order; sometimes he inserted the name of the month
between, and occasionally he inserted the year also. I have chosen to
make all daily entries uniform.

The journal is filled with hundreds of names of Blackford's family,
relatives, visitors, acquaintances, strangers crossing the Potomac River
on the ferry, and Blackford's slaves and hired laborers. I have made no
attempt to identify all these people. It would have been impossible to
do so. I have identified those whose identity is essential to an understanding
of the story. Most of these appear early in the text. I have
kept documentation to a minimum.

I am indebted to many people for aid in this undertaking, most of
all to Mr. J. Howard Beckenbaugh who very graciously gave his consent
to publication of the journal. Mrs. Frank W. Mish, Jr., of the Washington
County (Maryland) Historical Society was untiring in her efforts to
locate materials on Ferry Hill. The Clerk of the Court of Washington
County, made available John Blackford's will, deeds, and other legal
papers bearing on the Blackford family and plantation. The Institute
for Research in Social Science at the University of North Carolina gave
me a Grant-in-Aid for research and typed a clean copy of the journal.
I owe a special debt of gratitude to Miss Dena Neville, Secretary of the
Department of History at the University of North Carolina, who typed
the final copy and whose sharp eye and good judgment saved me from
errors which otherwise would have appeared in print.

The University of North Carolina Research Council aided in both
the research for and the publication of the Ferry Hill Plantation Journal.

INTRODUCTION

I
BUILDING THE PLANTATION

When the first settlers - Germans, Irish, and Scotch-Irish from
Pennsylvania, and Dutch from New York - began to push into western
Maryland in the 1720's they followed the old Indian and packhorse trail
from York, Pennsylvania. Those who wished to cross the Potomac
River into Virginia found the Packhorse Ford, one mile below the site
of the present Shepherdstown, West Virginia, the one and only good
crossing for many miles east or west of it. The area on both sides of the
Potomac had much to offer the newcomers: a salubrious climate, rich
and fertile soil, streams well stocked with fish and fields and forests
with game, numerous springs of excellent water and rapidly flowing
streams for power, limestone quarries for fertilizer and building stone,
and timber for fuel and lumber. The region was rapidly settled. Maryland
organized Frederick County in 1748 with Frederick Town as the
seat of government and Washington in 1776 with the government at
Hagerstown. Virginia organized her Frederick County in 1743 with
Winchester as the seat of government and cut off Berkeley and
Jefferson counties from Frederick along the Potomac in 1772, with
Martinsburg and Shepherdstown as the county seats respectively.

As the population increased Packhorse Ford no longer met the
needs for crossing the Potomac River, and in 1765 the Virginia Assembly
authorized Thomas Shepherd, who had founded Shepherdstown,
to establish a ferry between the town and the Maryland side of the river.
Before he began the project, however, Shepherd learned that Thomas
Van Swearingen had already been authorized to establish a ferry from
the Maryland side and Shepherd abandoned his project. Swearingen
began the operation of his ferry in 1765 with charges of three pence per
person and the same for each horse. Shepherdstown agreed to maintain
a road from the town to the ferry landing on the Virginia side. Meanwhile
Washington County, Maryland, constructed a road from Boonsboro
via Sharpsburg to the Swearingen Ferry landing on the Maryland
side of the Potomac. Sherpherdstown had road connections with
Charles Town, later the county seat of Jefferson, Martinsburg, Winchester,
Harpers Ferry, and the Shenandoah Valley; and Boonsboro
had road connections with Hagerstown, Frederick, and Baltimore,

Maryland. Hence Swearingen's Ferry was strategically located. It
was well patronized, and soon became a successful business enterprise.

John Blackford, son of John Blackford "Captain of the Independence
Blues" of the American Revolution and an early and leading citizen of
Boonsboro, purchased land from Thomas Shepherd on the Maryland
side of the Potomac River. This land, which lay below the ferry, connected
land already owned by Blackford with the ferry landing. In
1816 Blackford purchased from Henry Thomas Van Swearingen of
Shepherdstown, Virginia, his ferry together with his franchise, boats
and apparatus, three tracts of land in Maryland, namely "Antietam
Bottom," "Ferry Landing," and "Ferry
Landing Enlarged," and also
houses and unoccupied lots in Shepherdstown. He later acquired lands
from the Bedinger and Hays families which gave him contiguous holdings
of above seven hundred acres of land. Thus was consolidated the
Swearingen Ferry and lands and the Blackford lands to be called
Ferry Hill Plantation.

Blackford and his family lived in a large, two-story red brick house
which they called Ferry Hill Place. Erected in 1812 the house still
stands in 1961 although remodeled and somewhat changed. On Ferry
Hill Plantation were three other dwelling houses and "The Cottage"
erected by Van Swearingen for the ferry attendant. The three residences
were occupied in 1838 by Franklin, Blackford's married son, and Charles
and Joseph Knode, brother and nephew of Mrs. John Blackford. Franklin
had his own business interests but gave some assistance to his father
in managing the plantation. The Knodes cultivated Blackford's land
on a rental basis paying him a share of the crops grown. Blackford
placed the ferry under the control of two of his slaves and rented "The
Cottage" and his houses in Shepherdstown, generally but not always,
to people employed on his plantation.

Ferry Hill Plantation was located in a fertile and thickly populated
area. Joseph Scott, a well known geographer of his day, surveyed the
region in 1807 and reported that the lands of Washington County were
"esteemed equal if not superior in fertility to any in the state." Another
writer declared that the Antietam Valley was "remarkable for its
fertility and the wheat grown here is of the finest quality and is manufactured
into superior brands of flour." There were on Antietam
Creek some fourteen flour mills and several sawmills and iron works.
The average yield of wheat per acre in Washington County in 1840
was 34 bushels, of corn 26 bushels. The county led the state in per
acre yield of corn and was second in wheat. Other principal products
were oats, rye, hay, potatoes, apples, honey, livestock, limestone, and
lumber. Agriculture was conducted in a scientific manner; implements
of the most improved kind were used; livestock was improved by the
best of foreign breeds; and the rewards of planting were most gratifying.

The population of Washington County in 1840 was 28,850 of
which 24,724 were white, 2,546 were slave, and 1,580 were free
Negroes. A contemporary writer described the people of the area as
"noted for their thrift, intelligence, and prosperity."

Ferry Hill Place was located on the Potomac River four miles from
Sharpsburg, eleven from Boonsboro, twenty-two from Hagerstown, and
twenty-five from Frederick, Maryland, and less than three miles from
Shepherdstown and about fifteen from Harpers Ferry, Virginia. By
1838 it had turnpike connections with all these places and thence to
Baltimore, Maryland, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The turnpike to
Frederick crossed the National, or Cumberland Road to Wheeling,
Virginia. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal ran through the plantation
on its way to Williamsport giving water transportation to Washington,
D. C. And the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad gave rail connection at
both Frederick and Harpers Ferry.

II
THE BLACKFORD FAMILY

John Blackford (July 18, 178-, November-, 1839) was a wealthy
and prosperous business man. In addition to his plantation and ferry
he owned stock in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, the Baltimore Insurance
Company, the Boonsboro Turnpike Company, and other unidentified
business ventures. Furthermore he lent considerable sums of money
at interest. He was a public spirited leader in his community. He
served in the War of 1812 and commanded a company that, because of
its action at the disastrous battle of Bladensburg, was dubbed the
"Bladensburg Racers." Despite the poor showing of his troops Captain
Blackford's reputation did not suffer. He at least was later promoted
to a colonelcy in the volunteers. He served for many years as a justice
of the peace; was supervisor of the public roads in his district; was
active in organizing and building the Boonsboro Turnpike; was a
delegate to several county conventions held to encourage the building
of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and, when it was organized in 1828,
invested in its stock. In 1830 he was appointed to a committee of
Boonsboro citizens to try to get the Baltimore Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church to locate its proposed college in that town.
He never sought public office but presided over a county Democratic
Republican convention in 1828. He became an ardent Whig and on
occasion bitterly condemned the Democratic majority in the county
for what he termed "questionable action" in the
conduct of local elections.

Blackford was a comunicant of the Episcopal Church but not a regular
attendant upon its services. He contributed to its support and to the
German Reformed, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches. He gave
handsome sums toward the building of new church edifices of both
Episcopal and German Reformed congregations, but he refused to contribute
to the Maryland Bible Society.

Blackford married into the Knode family which had migrated into
western Maryland and Virginia with the earliest German settlers from
Pennsylvania. His wife was an invalid for some years and was confined
to her bed for most of the period covered by the Ferry Hill
Plantation Journal. Blackford was deeply devoted to her, gave her
all possible medical attention, sent her to the Belinda Springs, two miles
southeast of Sharpsburg, to take advantage of its medicinal waters, and
himself took her for a week's stay at the more famous Shannondale
Springs near Charlestown, Virginia. But all to no avail, Mrs. Blackford
died on October 7, 1838.

Mrs. Blackford bore her husband five children, three sons and two
daughters. Franklin, the eldest son, was married and had one child.
He and his wife Elizabeth lived in one of the dwelling houses on his
father's plantation. He engaged in various enterprises, among them
running a tavern, breeding horses, and operating a line of packet boats
on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. He sometimes assisted his father
in managing Ferry Hill, but did not seem to have his father's full confidence.
Jeannette Y., Blackford's eldest daughter, married Dr. Otho
Josiah Smith of Boonsboro. He was a graduate of the University of
Maryland and had studied medicine under Dr. Charles MacGill of
Hagerstown. Blackford's second son Henry V. S. was a student at the
Mercersburgh (Pennsylvania) Academy in 1837-1839. Helena, the
youngest daughter, was unmarried and lived with her parents. William
Moore, the youngest child, was just beginning his schooling in 1838 at
Francis Deary's School in Boonsboro.

Three of Blackford's wife's relatives lived on Ferry Hill Plantation.
Catherine Knode, a sister, never married and John Blackford, in his
will, provided for her an annuity for life. Charles Knode, a brother,
rented the Bedford Place from Blackford and cultivated it on shares.
Joseph Knode, a nephew, rented the Shepherd Farm as a share tenant.
He sometimes assisted Blackford with the plantation, boarded some of
his hired hands, and permitted his slaves to work in the fields with
Blackford's slaves. In fact it seems that slaves belonging to John
Blackford, Franklin Blackford, Mrs. Otho J. Smith, Charles Knode,
and Joseph Knode worked interchangeably for their respective masters.
The Knodes, a large clan, were frequent visitors at Ferry Hill Place.

III
PLANTATION MANAGEMENT

Blackford, like most Southern planters, was a busy and hard working
man. He did not of course do manual labor but he chose to manage his
plantation and supervise his varied business interests without the help
of an overseer. The only manual labor he reported doing during 1838
was to replace the crank and handle of a grindstone broken by one of his
hired laborers, and it took him the entire day to perform this minor task.
The only time he mentioned an overseer in his journal for 1838 was
when an overseer from a neighboring plantation sought a job with Blackford
because his current employer had decided to rent rather than
cultivate his plantation. Much of Blackford's time was spent in his
office where he kept the plantation journal published herewith, a financial
record of the ferry, records of his activities as a justice of the peace, and
other business transactions.

As noted above Blackford rented farms to his son and two of his
wife's relatives. This relieved him of close supervision over the cultivation
of these lands. How profitable his rental lands were the records
do not show. Joseph Knode paid him 385 bushels of corn, 138 3/4
bushels of wheat, and 85 1/2 bushels of rye for the Shepherd Farm in
1837. In addition Blackford received unspecified quantities of forage
including shucks and fodder from the corn, straw from wheat and rye,
and clover and timothy hay. Blackford appointed two of his slaves as
"Foremen of the Ferry." They did the work themsleves, called on other
slaves to assist, and even hired free labor, both white and black, to
assist in rush periods. They kept the receipts from the ferry and were
permitted to spend money therefrom for supplies as the need arose.
They generally reported the receipts daily, but sometimes they did not
report for several days. Obviously Blackford devoted little of his
time to the management of the ferry.

The slaves and hired laborers who did the general plantation work
carried on with a minimum of direct supervision. Occasionally Blackford
might ride into the fields, the range, or the woods to give general
directions or to specify exactly what work was to be done. For instance,
"I rode out and marked off the land I wish cleared." Blackford seems
to have found this system satisfactory. Certainly he recorded few
complaints about the work done. Blackford himself looked after his
rental property, including "The Cottage" and the houses in Shepherdstown.
And he gave considerable time and attention to lending money

and supervising his investments. These affairs caused him considerable
difficulty and he employed Joseph I. Merrick, a prominent lawyer of
Hagerstown and Baltimore, to assist him in these matters.

The most important money crop grown at Ferry Hill was wheat.
Blackford experimented with various types, particularly Blue Stem and
White, in an effort to increase the yield. Other crops grown were
corn, rye, oats, buckwheat, hay including timothy and red and white
clover, broom corn, potatoes, apples, pumpkins, turnips, hemp, and
flax. Blackford harvested his own seed and sold seed to the neighboring
farmers and planters. He had his grain milled at Mumma's, Staub's,
and Glassford's mills located on Antietam Creek, and shipped flour
and meal to Baltimore for sale. Apples, vinegar, cider, apple butter,
and potatoes were sold in the local markets.

Second in economic importance to general field crops at Ferry Hill
was timber. The forests supplied wood for fuel in the homes; posts,
rails, and palings for fences; and plank, scantling, and shingles to keep
the barns, stables, storage houses, and dwelling houses in repair. Blackford
employed a large number of hired laborers for work in the woods
during the fall and winter months. He sold large quantities of wood
for fuel to the inhabitants of Shepherdstown, Sharpsburg, and Boonsboro.
The wood sold for $2.50 per cord, and Blackford sold as many
as one hundred cords per year to a single customer in Shepherdstown.
Some householders sent their own laborers to cut and haul their wood.
In addition to wood for fuel Blackford sold posts, plank, scantling,
and shingles in considerable quantities. In some instances he sold logs to
the mills. He supplied various mills and factories with their particular
needs. For instance he sold the Antietam Iron Works gum, oak, and
hickory suitable for making helves for the huge hammers used in its
plant. And he sold timber to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company
for fuel and repairs.

The ferry across the Potomac River was an important adjunct to the
plantation. Blackford bought a one half interest in the ferry from Henry
Thomas Van Swearingen in 1816 for $900.00. He later bought the
remaining half from Mrs. Swearingen for an undisclosed sum. Blackford
rarely failed to close the daily entry in his journal without some
comment on the ferry business. Usually it was a laconic note running
from "Very Poor" through "Poor,"
"Tolerable," "Middling," "Good,"
to "Very Good." The state franchise laid down general regulations for
ferriage but Blackford could fix specific charges. Thus the foremen
charged a sheep herder $4.00 for ferrying a herd of five hundred sheep
across the river but charged the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company
$133.16 for ferrying two loads of gun stocks destined for Harpers

Ferry. The foremen had some difficulty in agreeing upon charges for
a circus company. The owner appealed to Blackford and only after
"considerable haggling" did he pay the charges. The ferry was a
profitable investment. In 1837 it brought Blackford $697.00 above the
cost of operation. And it continued to yield a profit to Blackford's
son Franklin, to whom it descended in 1839, until he sold it to a company
which built a bridge across the river which in turn abandoned the ferry
in 1850.

Blackford took great pride in livestock breeding of all sorts. He
raised enough hogs to supply Ferry Hill with ample pork, sausage, and
hams, with a surplus for sale. He cured his own meats and in 1838
bought a machine for making and stuffing sausage and liver pudding
which he found greatly facilitated the process. So successful was the
machine that neighboring planters made use of it. Blackford raised
sheep for food and wool. Among others he raised Saxons and Merinos.
The wool was processed on the plantation and made into coarse cloth
which the seamstress made into garments for the work force. Blackford
sent yarn to the Conrodt Woolen Mills in Frederick and had it made
into fine grade carpets. Blackford raised cattle to supply the plantation
with milk, butter, beef, and work oxen. He kept a blooded bull to maintain
the quality of his herd. Blackford kept brood mares and a stallion
and raised horses to be used on the plantation. Occasionally he bred his
mares to stallions widely known throughout the region. Blackford
practiced the arts of a veterinarian, not always successfully. And he
raised bees, chickens, turkeys, and pea fowl. Feathers from the latter
were marketed in Washington, D. C.

Blackford might be called a progressive farmer. He made extensive
use of natural manures and purchased agricultural lime which he applied
to his grain and hay crops. Although he continued to use out-moded
tools and time worn methods of cultivation he adopted and used
new and improved farm implements and machinery, including harrows
and rollers. Some of his grain was cut with scythes and hand cradles
but in 1838 he rented a harvesting machine, probably a McCormick
reaper, for cutting his wheat. Some grain was threshed by wooden flails
or by treading, but in 1838 Blackford used a threshing machine driven
by horses, and he owned a windmill, or as he called it a "revolving
machine," powered by nine horses. He used blooded cattle, horses, hogs,
and sheep for improving his livestock. It is not known that Blackford
took any prizes at the local county agricultural society fair, but he
was certainly aware of the extensive prize lists, published in the local
newspaper, which included horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, poultry, wheat,
corn, rye, oats, clover, potatoes, domestic linsey and carpets, apples,
cider, and vinegar, all of which were produced at Ferry Hill.

IV
THE LABOR FORCE

The Ferry Hill labor force consisted of twenty-five slaves and a
large number of hired workers. Among the slaves were seven young
children. Two of the adults regularly attended the Ferry and an unknown
number were household servants. The remainder worked at
whatever was to be done on the plantation - cutting fire wood and saw
timber, caring for the livestock, planting, cultivating, and harvesting
the grain, hay, and apple crops, and such irregular jobs as filling the
two ice houses, and rebuilding the cistern and water works for Ferry
Hill Place. During the year three births were recorded, two of which
were stillborn.

The slaves were generally satisfactory workers. Ned and Jupe,
who were assigned as "Foremen of the Ferry," were never criticized
in regard to their work. Occasionally Blackford would complain that
some of the field hands or woodcutters were "piddling at the job" but
only one severe criticism was recorded of any of the slaves workers.
Once, three slaves and an equal number of hired laborers, including one
German, were hauling wheat from the fields and storing it in the barns.
Blackford found their work wanting, and recorded of their activities,
"Bad planned and poorly managed Negroe dictation."

The slaves were generally trusted and rarely closely supervised. As
already noted Ned and Jupe were given full command of the Ferry.
They were premitted to hire extra labor
at rush periods and to spend
money from the ferriage receipts without specific authorization. Other
slaves were sent to Shepherdstown, Sharpsburg, or even to Boonsboro
with cash with which to purchase groceries, tobacco, clothing, and
various other commodities. In fact Blackford once sent one of his
slaves to town to purchase trimming for a fancy vest he had had a tailor
cut for himself. They were permitted to drive horses and carriages to the
neighboring towns, and in no instant was this trust violated.

The slaves were well clothed and well fed. Blackford bought clothing
for his slaves individually and when needed, and did not distribute
it to them at stated periods in the fall and spring as most planters did.
In fact he often let the slave purchase his own clothing. The following
entries taken from the journal are typical. "Gave Ned $1.50 to pay
for a Blanket which he bought of Lane and Webb." "Gave Murf a new
coat good Lindsey." "Gave Will 12 1/2 cents to buy him some tobacco."

Blackford was most solicitous about the health and well-being of his
slaves. Little Caroline fell while playing in the barnyard and Doctor

Richard Parran was called to treat her bruises. Little George fell ill
and Blackford immediately sent for Doctor Parran to attend him.
When Hannah, Will's wife, was delivered of a female child Mrs.
Israel Fry a midwife attended her. Daphney, who was pregnant, was
taken ill and Doctor Parran and Mrs. Fry were both called. She had
a miscarriage and was hospitalized for eleven days.

Blackford showered his slaves with special favors. In addition to
furnishing them with tobacco he bought and distributed whiskey to the
workers. He permitted them to visit the family and slaves of his
daughter, Mrs. Otho J. Smith, in Boonsboro. They drove a cart and
carried chickens, eggs, butter, and other such commodities to them.
Occasionally they were given stagecoach fare to make the trip of some
eleven miles to Boonsboro. Despite such treatment Blackford's slaves
were not a contented lot. Caroline, Daphney, Will, and Isaiah were all
reported as runaways more than once. Daphney, on one occasion, got
to Sharpsburg where she spent the night before Henry, who "went in
parsuit," overtook her. Isaiah, a house servant who was reported
"absent without parmition," went to Boonsboro. Were they merely
taking advantage of their liberties; were they stimulated in their efforts
by the numerous free Negroes who resided in the neighborhood; or did
they seek freedom as a natural right?

Some of the Blackford slaves were an ill-behaved lot. They frequently
indulged in excessive use of liquor. Ned, a foreman of the
Ferry was reported by Helen Blackford to be "quite much intoxicated"
at high noon. Again he "came up from the Ferry after dark quite stupid
with liquor." The following entries in the Journal are typical. "Murf
and Julious both drunk." "Murf drunk as usual,"
"Murf down at the
ferry pretty drunk." Blackford, who reported that he once got "very
high" on champagne when on a business trip to Hagerstown, did not
punish his slaves for drunkenness. In fact he seemed to condone the
practice, and once excused them for being a little "slow and stiff" at
the harvesting of wheat because "they had no bitters the whiskey which
they all love dearly has given out."

But Blackford did not fail to administer punishment when he felt it
was deserved. Careless or deliberate destruction of property he would
not tolerate. Enoch "suffered the grey mare to run off and broke off
shafts of the cart" and Blackford "corrected him. . .
by giving him a few
lashes." "Isaiah sat the peoples victuals down and the hoggs destroyed
it," and Blackford "whipped him." Again Blackford
"punished Isaiah
pretty severely for his misconduct." Among other offenses recorded,
several of which went unpunished, were "use of profane language,"
"bad conduct eave dropping and attempt to break into [Blakney's]
house," "Caroline behaved bad in the kitchen,"
"Ned beat Little John,"
"Jupe and Caroline behaved bad," and Ned
"confessed to the destruction

of 2 pea cocks." Two of the young slaves
"little Caroline" and
"little George" were accused of "pilfering money"
from members of the
Blackford family but neither charge was proven.

Judging from the record Blackford was a kindly, even indulgent,
master. His slaves were well fed, well clothed, worked almost entirely
without supervision, were given all sorts of special privileges, were given
the same sort of medical care as members of their master's family, and
were not severely punished. Blackford hired out two of his slaves to
close personal friends and in each case the contract called for
"good and
sufficient clothing and provisions." Finally, in his will
Blackford declared
"It is my will and desire that care shall be taken to prevent any
of my slaves being sold out of the State or to slave traders or their
agents unless for grave faults, or to any but humane and good masters."

Blackford employed a large number of hired laborers for seasonal
farm work, for cutting wood and timber, and for special jobs such as
filling the ice houses and repair work on barns and houses. Some few
were hired for the year. The hired laborers included native whites,
foreigners whom Blackford called Germans, Dutch, Scotch, Irish and
Italian, free Negroes, slaves belonging to his neighbors, and Indians.
Most of these were unskilled workers but Blackford occasionally hired
skilled carpenters and brick masons. The latter were employed to remodel
his own house and to rebuild a cistern and water works. It
is impossible to say just how many workers Blackford employed, but a
count for two months in 1838 discloses 3 slaves, 4 free Negroes, 3
Indians, 2 Dutchmen, 6 Germans, 1 Irishman, 1 Italian, and 21 local
whites. Nor is there sufficient evidence to generalize about wages or
the quality of work done. One white man was paid $1.00 per day, a
white woman 62 1/2 cents, and a Negro girl 87 1/2 cents in wheat harvesting.
An old man who did what Blackford called "piddling work" was
given his keep, a little tobacco, and an occasional sum of money for
making fence palings. An "old Negro" was hired to make brooms of
broom corn grown on the plantation at 6 1/4 cents each. One free Negro
cut 18 1/2 cords of wood, split 550 fence rails, and sawed blocks for
shingles and logs for lumber, but his wages were not recorded. One
white laborer split 2,640 shingles by hand, a carpenter pulled off the
old roof on the barn and smokehouse on Shepherd Farm and nailed on
6,800 shingles on the house in Shepherdstown. The brick mason who
rebuilt the cistern and water works at Ferry Hill Place was engaged in
the task for more than a month.

The hired laborers generally proved satisfactory workers, but they
occasionally fell under condemnation. For instance two free Negro
wood cutters were denied the use of Blackford's grindstone because
"they had carelessly broken the handle off of the crank." Isaac Widows,
a white wood cutter also "broke the crank of my grindstone. I conclude

he is very Trifeling." Martin Shellman, another white man and a
"trifeling fellow," was discharged but continued
on the place and "ate
in the kitchen with the Negroes." Both these men had been employed
for the year and both were re-employed after having been discharged.

Blackford's chief grievance against his hired laborers was their
excessive use of whiskey. He himself contributed to this habit by serving
them liquor and by furnishing them money to purchase it for themselves.
On one occasion Nicholas and Martin came to work, but
"booth are for a sprey." Blackford gave
"Nicholas $2.75 and Martin
$1.00 which will keep them drunk for some time." After Shellman
"went on a sprey for more than a week," which he had spent in
Sharpsburg and where he had taken one of Blackford's sheep dogs,
Blackford called him in on August 26 and gave him a lecture on
whiskey drinking. "He said he would quit and drink no more." On
September 4, Blackford wrote "Shellman making shingles, sober and
stedy"; September 20, "Shellman still perfectly sober." Blackford
thought he had worked a cure. But alas, on September 30, "Shellman
came in the evening. has been Drunk in Sharpsburg all last night."
A few days later a stranger called and asked for a job but Blackford
decided "he looked like a drinker therefore I would not imploy him."
It might be noted that Blackford treated his hired laborers as individuals
be they black or white, slave or free, and judged each on his
own merits. One example will suffice. Isaac Widows, a white man
employed for the year, "called wants meat, bread, & money gave him
none. Negro George came, gave him $1 to purchase a hat."

V
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

The members of the Blackford family seem never to have had a
dull moment. Situated in a thickly populated area and within easy
driving distance of Hagerstown, Boonsboro, and Sharpsburg, Maryland,
and Shepherdstown and Harpers Ferry, Virginia, Ferry Hill Place
was hardly ever without one or more visitors, some of whom spent
days and weeks at a time. Furthermore the Ferry led many travelers
and strangers to stop at the plantation house. Many of Blackford's close
friends and relatives called every day to inquire about Mrs. Blackford's
health and dined or supped with them, and travelers often ate at the
plantation. A check for one month shows that daily callers ranged
from two to ten, those who dined ranged from two to five, those who
spent the night ranged from two to four, and that individual guests remained
three, five, nine, and twenty-four days. Some came, like Miss

Berry of Sharpsburg, to bring delicacies, "cake and jelly for Mrs.
B" and remained for only a few minutes. Some were business men,
and some laborers seeking employment. And among them were Scotsmen
seeking subcriptions to magazines and Irish and German peddlers with
their packs on their backs.

The Blackford family, white and black, suffered many ills. Mrs.
Blackford had been ill for some time before January 4, 1838, when
the journal opens. Dr. Richard Parran paid professional calls nearly
every day for several months, sometimes twice per day. But
he was also a close friend and he, his wife, and the widow of Doctor
Charles MacGill paid many social calls and often dined at Ferry Hill
Place. Dr. Otho J. Smith, Blackford's son-in-law, paid professional
calls as did Mrs. Israel Fry, a midwife who attended the Blackford
slave women. But she also paid social calls. Blackford himself administered
drugs and patent medicines to members of both his black and
white families. These medicines included Sedlitz Powers, Brandreth
Pills, castor oil, calomel, epsom salts, spirits of niter, saltpeter, magnesia,
and laudanum.

Another person who was often at Ferry Hill Place was Mrs. Nafe,
a seamstress. She seems to have made most of the clothing for the
slaves and much of that for the Blackford family. Blackford and his
sons patronized tailors in the nearby towns who measured and cut their
garments but Mrs. Nafe would sew the garments which the tailor had
cut. This was true also of the clothing of his wife and daughter. But
Mrs. Nafe was more than a hired worker, she was a friend and she
and her daughter were often guests in the home.

Blackford was a well educated and widely read man; his family too
was educated and well read. Blackford was an avid reader of the
Baltimore Patriot and always noted in his journal the failure of its
arrival. He also subscribed to the Hagerstown
Torch Light, the New
York Whig, a Virginia paper probably
the Richmond Whig, and an
unidentified Philadelphia paper. He subscribed to the
American Farmer
of Baltimore and the Ladies' Companion of New York. His library
consisted of a "Large collection of books" including encyclopaedias,
dictionaries, a set of State Papers,
history, classics, and biographies.
Among the latter were John Marshall's Life of
Washington and Plutarch's
Lives. Blackford's son Franklin and other young men of the
vicinity made use of both the newspapers and books at Ferry Hill
Place. Blackford sent one of his sons, Henry, to the well known
Mercersburgh (Pennsylvania) Academy and the youngest one, William,
to Francis Dreary's School in Boonsboro. It was to please Henry that
Blackford subscribed to the Philadelphia newspaper.

The Blackford family was deeply religious and, except for Blackford
himself, were ardent churchgoers. Blackford was a member of the

Episcopal Church, Mrs. Blackford of the Presbyterian and the children
were divided in their affiliation. Jeannette married a Roman
Catholic. The other children attended various churches, including
Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, German Reformed, and
Dunkard. They attended also inter-denominational revival services in
Sharpsburg and a camp meeting in Pleasant Valley. The Blackfords
entertained seven different ministers, two Episcopalian, two Presbyterian,
and one Methodist, one Dunkard, and one German Reformed, at
Ferry Hill Place during the year. All of them dined at least once and
two of them spent the night. The family contributed regularly to the
support of the Episcopal, Presbyterian, and German Reformed churches
and made large contributions to building both Episcopal and German
Reformed edifices. They also made small contributions to the Methodist
church program.

The Blackfords enjoyed the social life typical of the rural farmer and
planter class. Men and boys enjoyed fishing and hunting and the
women quilting parties. Blackford himself took great delight in shooting
foxes because of their destruction of birds and poultry. Franklin
shot quail and pigeons in Virginia which abounded in great numbers
"flying in all directions." The young people of both sexes enjoyed boat
riding on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal during the summer and skating
and sleigh riding in the winter. They organized "Oyster Parties" at
Shepherdstown and "fishing parties" at "Anti Eatem"
Creek, as Blackford
always wrote it. Three circuses made their appearance at Shepherdstown
and Boonsboro during the summer of 1838 one of which the
Blackford boys attended "to the great dissatisfaction of their mother."
The Blackfords also enjoyed the visits of Irish and German peddlers
from whom they purchased linens and trinkets. They joined in the public
celebration of Washington's birthday and July Fourth in Shepherdstown
where they enjoyed military parades, martial music, and the firing
of small arms as well as the "refreshments at the Springs as customary."
But Blackford looked askance at the "Fandango barbacue or whatever
you call it" given in the park.

The Blackfords enjoyed visits to the Virginia Springs, to Hagerstown
and Harrisburg, and to Washington and Baltimore. All members of the
family made short visits to the Belinda Springs near Sharpsburg where
they took the baths and the mineral water, and enjoyed the social entertainment.
On these trips they were often entertained by Colonel John
Miller's family who were devoted friends of long standing. Blackford
and his sons visited Hagerstown and Harrisburg chiefly on business
but on one of his trips he attended a party at Kalhoofers "where we
drank prety freely of Champain wine," and he arose the next morning
"with head ache and bad feelings from having taken too much Champain."
Blackford and his daughter Helena made an extended business

and pleasure trip by boat to Washington, thence by train to Baltimore
and back home. They were accompained by Colonel and Mrs. Miller
and their daughter. In Washington they visited the City Hall, the
Capitol, and the White House where they talked with President Martin
Van Buren. They attended musical performances at Miss English's
Female School and other salons. Blackford took his wife to the
Shannondale Springs in the Shenandoah Valley where they spent a week
and took the medicinal waters and baths and enjoyed a quiet and peaceful
rest. The season was over, so they saw few people and found little
social entertaining.

Various exciting incidents and accidents occurred at Ferry Hill.
Among others was the drowning of a horse that fell from the tow path
into the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. More tragic was the accidental
drowning of a young man in the Potomac River. He was a member of
a skating party. The thin ice broke and he sank beneath the surface
and was drowned before his companions could rescue him. The
incident that caused greatest excitement, however, was the robbery at
Ferry Hill Place. While Blackford was away at the Shannondale
Springs a slave boy, belonging to Dr. Joseph Hays of Sharpsburg, broke
into his office and took $170.77 from his cash box. "Yealow boy
Charles," as Blackford called him, was tried and convicted of the crime
in the Washington County Superior Court on November 27, 1838.

VI
DISSOLUTION

John Blackford, author of the Ferry Hill Plantation Journal published
herewith, died from a lingering illness in less than a year after he made
the last entry in the Journal on January 15, 1839. In his will, dated
November 1, 1839, he disposed of his large estate. He divided Ferry
Hill Plantation among his three sons. To Franklin he bequeathed lands
purchased from Thomas Van Swearingen, including the Ferry, the Ferry
House Landing and Lot, together with the boats and apparatus, the
franchises and privileges, and the Landing in Virginia and the land
thereto attached. In addition Franklin was given Orchard Field, the
Lot along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and the dwelling house and
vacant lot in Shepherdstown. With the Ferry went Edmund and Julious
the Foremen. Henry Blackford was given Ferry Hill Place. William
Moore Blackford was given the Lower Farm, the Shepherd Place, the
Bedford or Bedinger Farm, and his father's gold watch. Jeannette Smith,
Blackford's eldest daughter, received $12,000 in money and her mother's
gold watch. Helena Blackford received $12,000 and the family portraits.

Catherine Knode, Blackford's wife's sister, received the income on
$3,333.00 which yielded an annuity of $200.00 for life. After the above
bequests were taken care of the executors were to sell the other property
and divide the proceeds equally among the five children.

The executors ordered a public sale of Blackford's personal estate
to begin on December 10, 1839. The inventory of the property reveals a
house well stocked with sliver; a large quantity of Brussels, Ingrain, and
Garth carpets some completely new; a large number of mahogany and
cherry bedsteads, tables, sofas, lounges and secretaries; eight dozen
Windsor chairs; a "Large Collection of valuable books"; lamps of all
kinds; glass ware, clocks, and Williams and Frankin stoves; and a great
variety of kitchen furniture. The plantation was stocked with work and
breeding horses; milk, beef, and breeding cattle; fifty fat hogs and
numerous brood sows and stock hogs; a large herd of Saxon and Merino
sheep; wagons, carts, plows, cultivators, rollers, and wind mills; large
quantities of hay, wheat, rye, corn, oats, hemp, and flax; timber, plank,
shingles, locust posts, saw logs, and fire wood; a blacksmith shop and
saw mill; a carriage, barouche, sleigh, gig, cart, and harness; and,
finally, sixteen slaves. The executors reported $30,917.22 derived from
the sale. No report was made on debts collected, sale of stocks and
shares, or the Kentucky lands Blackford is known to have purchased.

A clearer understanding of the value of the estate may be gotten
from the knowledge that in 1846 Henry Blackford sold Ferry Hill
Place to his brother Franklin for $17,180. Assuming that the portions
of the landed estate which fell to Franklin and William were about equal
in value to that which went to their brother, John Blackford left a landed
estate of something like $52,000 exclusive of the land in Kentucky. His
personal estate amounted to about $54,000, exclusive of the value of
shares in various business enterprises and money, certainly over $2,500,
at interest. The total would have amounted to about $110,000, a very
handsome estate in 1840.

January 1838

4th Thursday.
Weather Remarcable soft and pleasant. It is as warm as
a day in May. Doct. Parran1
called. Mrs. B2 appears to be better.
Parran and Franklin3
rode shooting. Birds. Doct. Smith4
called, dined
and spent two hours. he brought Mr. Samuel Powells receipt, dated
Decr. 2d for $50 in full. I placed in the Doct. hans this day $100
to be paid to Jno. A. & S. Bentz & Co.
5 on account. I rode out and
marked off the land I wish cleared. Helena
6 and Mary Miller
7 Rode out
this afternoon. discovered a sheep ded in the pasture. Will puled
the wool off him and Murf threshing clover seed off the straw Enoch
8
hauling manure from Hogg pen to Barnyard. My Balt newspaper
9 did
not come By the last nights mail. So says the Shepherds Town poastmaster.
Ned complaining him and Jupe
10 in the Boat.
11

1.
Doctor Richard Parran of Shepherdstown, Virginia, was the Blackford family
physician and a close personal friend of John Blackford whose will he witnessed.

2. Mrs. B.
was John Blackford's wife. She never fully recovered from her
illness and died October 7, 1838.

3. Franklin
was John Blackford's eldest son. Married and with one son, Franklin
lived in one of the houses on Ferry Hill Plantation and assisted his father in
the management of his various business enterprises.

4. Otho
Josiah Smith of Boonsboro, Maryland, a graduate of the University of
Maryland (1833), had studied medicine under the famous Doctor Charles McGill of
Hagerstown. Smith married Jeannette Y. Blackford, eldest daughter of John
Blackford.

5. John A. and
Samuel Bentz were general merchants in Boonsboro, from whom
Blackford purchased many of the supplies for his family and plantation.

6. Helena,
also called Helen, was Blackford's youngest, and unmarried, daughter.

7. Mary
Miller, daughter of Colonel John Miller of Sharpsburg, Maryland, was a
close friend of Helena Blackford and a frequent visitor at
Ferry Hill where she
sometimes spent a month on a single visit.

8. Will,
Murf or Murphey, and Enoch were slaves on Ferry Hill Plantation.

9.
Blackford was a regular and an avid reader of the Baltimore Patriot.
He
also subscribed to newspapers published in Hagerstown, Maryland, Richmond,
Virginia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New York City.

10.
Ned or Edmund and Jupe or Julious were slaves who regularly attended the
Ferry Boat on the Potomac River. Blackford called them
"Foremen of the
Ferry." Other slaves sometimes assisted at the Ferry
as did hired hands including
free Negroes, Indians, native whites, and Irish and German immigrants.

11.
Blackford bought a one half interest in the Ferry on the Potomac River from
Henry Thomas Van Swearingen of Shepherdstown, Virginia, in 1816. Page 4

5th Friday. Weather morning
cloudy and some little Rain. only a
sprinkle. Mrs. Hoffmyer12
and Mrs. Miller13 called. Doct. Parran
called. Enoch suffered the grey mare to run off and broke off the shafts
of the Cart the wind has sprang up and the clouds dispersed the wind is
from the south. it continues warm The Revd. Hoffmier
14 & Mrs. Miller
dined with us then set off home. I corrected Enouch by giving him
a few lashes. Exchanged $30 with Franklin for Canal scrip.
15 he has
taken the colt to brake. he rode my mare to Sharpsg in the evening.
recd a letter from C K16
informing of the Birth of a son. that Jennett
Smith17 was delivered
of a fine son at 10 o clock this morning Helena
sent a small bundle and a note by the stage before she knew her sisters
situation I recd 2 patriot papers having missed one the last mail Ned
and Jupe in the Boat. The hands finished the clover seed.

6th Saturday. Weather
continues soft and warm like unto spring. Doct.
Parran called. Mrs. B. appears some better. took a doass Magnetia
and spirit of niter.18
Mr. Hargrave and Lady19 and Mrs. Swearingen20
called spent a short time. I wrote a letter addressed to C. Knode on the
subject of the Birth which Jennett has given to a son. Sent Daphney
21
with the letter and a bottle and money to get yeast. J. K.
22 called
left two receipts one for 60 B. 44 w
23 wheat left in Mammas mill and

12. Mrs. Hoffmyer
of Hoffmier, a close friend of Mrs. Blackford, was the wife
of a Lutheran minister of Sharpsburg, Maryland.

13. Mrs. Miller,
a close friend of the Blackford family and a frequent visitor
at Ferry Hill, was the wife of Colonel John Miller of Sharpsburg.

14. The Reverend
Mr. Hoffmier was a minister of Sharpsburg. Blackford, himself
an Episcopalian, contributed to Hoffmier's church which he sometimes referred
to as the German Reformed and sometimes as the Lutheran Church.

15. The scarcity
of small coins in circulation, caused by the disappearance of
specie during the panic of 1837, led the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company in
June of 1837 to issue notes of $5.00 or less and later up to $20.00
in value. By
July 1838 a total of $436,513.50 had been issued. The scrip circulated widely in
Maryland and Virginia and spread also into Pennsylvania and Ohio.

16. Charles Knode,
Mrs. Blackford's brother, resided in one of the houses on
Ferry Hill Plantation and cultivated a tract of land, called "the lower farm,"
on which he paid rent.

17. This was
Blackford's eldest daughter who married Doctor Otho J. Smith of
Boonsboro. Christened Jeannette the family called her Jennett or Janet.

18. Blackford,
as did most planters of the pre-Civil War South, administered
patent medicines and standard drugs to members of his household both white and
black.

19. John T.
Hargrave was a Presbyterian minister residing in Shepherdstown.
Mrs. Hargrave was a friend of Mrs. Blackford.

20. Mrs.
Swearingen, widow of Henry Thomas Van Swearingen from whom
Blackford purchased the Ferry, and her family were close friends of the Blackfords
and frequent visitors at Ferry Hill.

21.
Daphney, more often called Daph, was a slave woman.

32 B. Rye in Staubs Mill24
which sett[l]ed up his last years rent being
138 B 44 w wheat 85 1/2 Bushel Rye and 385 Bushel corn. Elizabeth
25
called spent the afternoon. Mrs. Eaton
26 left before dinner she has
spent 24 days with us. Hannah Van Swearingen and Quigleys little
son27
called spent a short time. Murf has hauled 6 logs to the mill.
Will pidling about feeding the hoggs and cutting a little wood Enoch
helping Murf Ned & Jupe in the Boat.

7th Sunday.
Weather continues soft and pleasant. Doct. Parran called
quite early with a promise to call again in the afternoon. Mrs. B. dose
not appear much Better. - one lamb only up to this date. 4 Sows
have 24 Pigs. Doct. P. called again this evening. J. K.'s wife came up
in the evening and spent a short time. - the wind sprang up from the S.
West this evening. have spent a very quiet day. There has been no
company to interupt the quiet of the family. - Mary Miller Helena and
myself and little William28
composed the family - Ned and Jupe in the
Boat. a midling Business. The weather moderate.

8th Monday. Weather
Wind blew nearly all the last night. clouded over
and commenced raining about day Break this morning. Wind shifted to
N. W. and cleared at 12 oclock. Doct. Parran called Mrs. B. appears
to be Better. Abraham Smith called paid the balance of his acct. in
canal scrip $12 - Elizabeth came up and spent an hour and returned
home. Murf and Enoch have hauled to the saw mill 2 popler logs and
brought over some pailings scantling and plank. Will has been pidling
about the hoggs and cuting some wood, two more lambs is reported,
which is 3 now come Franklin Exhibited the colt in his breaking gears.
- Ned & Jupe in the Boat. very small Business. -

9th Tuesday. Weather. A
large white frost this morning. Col. Miller's
29
Black Boy called to inform us of the decease of Mrs. Johnson George
Knodes Daughter Elizabeth.30
She died at Harpers ferry, is to be buryed

24.
Blackford patronized both Samuel Mumma's and Henry Staub's wheat and
grist mills and stored his grain in their warehouses awaiting grinding and sale.

25.
Franklin Blackford's wife, as well as Joseph Knode's wife, was named Elizabeth
and each had a small child. Since they lived on the plantation and were frequently
at Ferry Hill it is not always possible to distinguish between the two
Elizabeths.

26.
Mrs. Eaton of Shepherdstown was a frequent, as well as long staying, guest
at Ferry Hill.

28.
William Moore was Blackford's youngest child.

29.
John Miller (1787-1885) of Sharpsburg, Maryland, captain in the War
of 1812, wealthy planter and business man, was a close friend whom Blackford
named in his will as an executor of his estate.

30.
The Knodes of Harpers Ferry, Virginia, were close relatives of Mrs. Blackford. Page 6

this day at 12 oclock. Mrs. Hargrave called this morning Doct. Parran
called remained to Dinner as did Mrs. Hargrave Doct. Smith arrived
while we were at Dinner. spent an hour and returned home Murf and
Enoch hauled 2 logs to the saw mill. and Brought over some pailing
stuff. Will cut some wood. put up the stuff for pailings. Mrs. Hargrave
returned home in the evening Mary Miller here Mrs. B. is much
Better Murf & Enoch hauled some rails together this afternoon. The
weather continues fine changed a little cooler. Ned & Jupe in the
Boat a very small Business.

10th Wednesday.
Weather changed. Cooler. A white frost last night.
J. K. called this morning. Brought my Bags home. Mrs. Miller came
Murf and Enoch hauling Rails together in the woods Mrs. McFarlin
31
came over and little John. Boath remained all night. Mrs. Miller returned
home after supper. Will cut some hickory wood brought a small
load home. Widows32
called to know about cuting wood. the weather is
quite cold began feezing before sunset. I have been writing on my
Books.33 Ned &
Jupe in the Boat.

11th Thursday. Weather has
changed. much colder, the last night
froze quite hard. Doct. Parran called this morning Mrs. B. is mending.
is still confined to her bed. Mrs. Eaton came over Mrs. McFarlin and
her son John was here all night. J. Knode called this morning left
his account for Boarding some hands34
which I credited him; a young
man left an account from Adam Licklider
35 for mending harness &ct
amt. $8.87 1/2. Murf went out after late breckfast with wagon to haul
Rails he Broke off the wagon Toung. brought home a load hickory
wood which Will cut. There has come 7 lambs one of which perished
last night. sent Enoch to Sharpsburgh. had my mare and the Bob Horse
shod. Brought some Beef from Col. Miller called on Mrs. Nafe
36 and

31.
Mrs. McFarlin, sometimes written McFarlen and McFarlan, and members of
her family of Shepherdstown were frequent visitors at Ferry Hill.

32.
Isaac Widows of Shepherdstown was a day laborer hired by Blackford as wood
cutter and field hand.

33.
Blackford kept an account book of his Ferry, another of his dealings with
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, a record of his justice of the peace activities, and a consolidated financial record. None of these books are known to exist.

34.
Occasionally some of Blackford's hired laborers ate their meals with Knode
who rented his farm and house from Blackford. When they did so Blackford
credited the board bill to Knode's account.

35.
Adam Licklider, who ran a leather and harness shop in Shepherdstown patronized
by Blackford, had difficulty in collecting this bill which Blackford characterized
as an "Extravegent Harness mending account."
He finally paid it on May 10.

36.
Mrs. Nafe, also written Neff, who lived in Shepherdstown was a seamstress
often employed at Ferry Hill. She and her daughter were accepted socially at
Ferry Hill where they often visited and dined with other guests. Page 7

Mrs. Morrison37
Widows called again. Mrs. McFarlen gone home this
evening - Ned & Jupe in the Boat. poor poor Business -
John Brien38
has been very ill is geting better.

12th Friday.
Weather Cold froze hard last night. Isaac widows came
and commenced cuting wood. I went out and shewed him a lot then
rode through the woods to where J. K. was cuting fire wood. a horse
sent for Mary Miller she went home Mrs. Eaton here. Doct. Parran
called Mrs. B. sat up some. Lickliders young man called wants money
for the accounts he left yesterday Murf and Enoch geting out clover
seed with 9 horses and the revolving machine. Franklin rideing the
Bay mare colt Rose Will cuting wood and
takeing care of the stock Ned
& Jupe in the Boat. done but poor Business recd. the Patriot of 10th &
11th.

13th Saturday.
Weather clear more moderate and pleasant. Franklin
called has rode my mare to Sharpsg Murf and Enoch Treading the clover
seed.39
Enoch took a Bag Corn to mill. Will cuting some wood Miss
V. Swearingen & Miss Henry called and spent a few minutes; Miss
Berry came over and brought some cake and jelly for Mrs. B. Will
hauled a load wood with the ox cart for Franklin in the evening Martin
Shellman40
called to say he wants come on Monday to cut timber. Sent
$1.25 to buy sugar coffee & pepper. Ned and Jupe in the Boat has been
a very poor Business done this week. Mrs. Eaton here. she came on
Thursday. Enoch took one other Bag white corn to the mill and
Brought a Bag of corn meal home. Mrs. B. is recovering her strength
& health.

14th Sunday. morning
clear cold a white frost. I arose this morning with
unpleasant feelings. swimming gidiness in my head with my stomach
affected. eat no breckfast. Helena and William gone to Sharpsburgh
to meeting - Elizabeth and J. K.s wife called, eat dinner and spent a
short time with Mrs. B. who is recovering. Daphney and Isaiah came
Isaiah returned in the evening. he rode the Doct. gray Horse took with

37.
Mrs. Morrison was the wife of the Reverend J. H. Morrison an Episcopal
minister in Sharpsburg.

38.
John McPherson Brinn was the owner of a forge, a nail factory, and a
blacksmith shop connected with the Antietam Iron Works. Blackford patronized
Brinn's shops and sold Brinn timber and sand.

39.
Blackford followed such time worn methods of threshing grain but also made
use of horse powered threshing machines.

40.
Martin Shellman of Shepherdstown was employed intermittently throughout
the year although Blackford, exasperated with his constant and excessive use of
whiskey, often threatened to dismiss him. At one time he persuaded Shellman
to give up the use of whiskey and expressed the view that Shellman was cured.
Alas, a short time later Shellman was drunk again. Page 8

him in a Bag some off fall sausage &ct. and 3 Chickens
41 from C.
Knodes. Salley Williams came in the evening and spent the night. I
took 4 of the Breandrith
42 pills
going to Bed. Ned & Jupe in the Boat.
Very little doing. no Traveling -

15th Monday.
morning windy which sprang up some time before day.
the pills I took opperated before day which sickened and gave me unpleasant
feelings. Isaac Widows came over to cut wood he broke the
crank of my grind stone, I conclude he is very Trifeling Sally Williams
left after Breckfast. Doct. Parran called. Murf and Enoch are cleaning
clover seed. Will cuting wood. I have been ingaged all this day,
mending the crank of the grind stone that Widows broke - this day
has been very pleasant. I recd no paper by this nights mail. This is
the second failure within two weeks. Ned and Jupe in the Boat. gave
Ned $1.50 to pay for a Blanket which he bt. of Lane & Webb.
43

16th Tuesday. morning
pleasant I took 4 pills last night which sickened
me this morning when they commenced opperating - Martin Shellman
came eat his breckfast and him and Will went out to cut shingle
timber. Mr. Kirk called wants popler plank and to sent the warehourse
in S. Town. A. Humerickhouse called to request me to make out
my acct. against the Packet Coy.
44
for ferriages which I have done amt.
$11.75 to sent to Mr. Wm Shortt. Mrs.
Nafe came after Breckfast.
Murf and Enoch working at the clover seed. Sent the P. Coy. acct. to
Mr. Shortt by Ned. I finished poasting my Books. Mrs. Nafe took
two coats to make home with her. Ned and Jupe in the Boat but little
doing -

17th Wednesday.
morning cloudy and a small sprinkle of Rain. Still
warm for the season clears off and is as warm as a May day Morrison
came down ingaged to cut wood next week I rode out to the woods.
Shellman & Will cuting and sawing shingle timber. Isaac Widows cuting

41.
Daphney and Isaiah, slaves at Ferry Hill, often visited and worked for Dr.
and Mrs. Otho J. Smith of Boonsboro. On numerous occasions they took supplies
from Ferry Hill to the Smiths.

42.
Brandreth pills were a very popular patent medicine. A Shepherdstown
newspaper advertised them as "an effective remedy for
consumption, influenza,
colds, indigestion and headache." It declared that
9,000,000 boxes had been sold
in a five year period, and that more than 300,000 patients had been cured of their
ills by the use of the pills.

43.
Lane and Webb was a merchandising firm in Shepherdstown often patronized
by Blackford. As this entry shows Blackford did not distribute clothing to his
slaves as a group at stated periods but purchased, or permitted
the slaves to purchase for themselves, for each slave individually
as the need arose.

44.
The Packet Company operated a line of boats on the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal from Georgetown to Williamsport, Maryland. It unloaded goods at
Ferry Hill to be ferried across the Potomac to Shepherdstown on the Virginia side.
Humerickhouse was a boatman, Short an official of the company. Page 9

cord wood. Martin boarding at J. K.s I rode down to J. Ks.
Nicholas45
called to settle and ingage the house for the next year.
added up his account and find he owes me $16.22 1/2 Including his house
Rent which is $20. Murf and Enoch working at the clover seed. Jacob
Miller46
called wants some timber which I granted him privilege to cut
on my land. I have counted this day 22 Sucking Piggs and 5 lambs.
Murf reports that he has cleaned up 11 1/4 clover seed and put in Bags
Ned and Jupe in the Boat light Business.

18th Thursday.
Weather is Remarcably warm for this season of the
year. Franklin and Helena sat out for Boons on horseback after an early
Breckfast gave Helena $1.50. sent Enoch with the cart and wagon to
Sharpsg to have shafts and a Tounge Murf commenced geting out
wheat Will assisting Martin Shellman to fall and saw shingle Timber.
There was a second failure in my newspapers none by the last nights
mail. Recd a letter from Amanda Shepherd
47 dated November. Springfield.
Illanois F & his sister returned after sunset report that Catherine
Miller went and returned with them. Ned complaining say he is
troubeled with great heat in his abdomen and thies. Mrs. B. has sat
up a part of this day, in her room. Ned and Jupe in the Boat -

19th Friday. Cloudy
and raining has rained during the night. The
wind shifted and blew from W. & N ceased raining about 9 oclock. Murf
and Enoch in the Barn geting out wheat. Will gone to assist Martin
saw Shingle Timber. Widows not at work wants something to eat. I
walked out where Martin and Will are at work found a young lamb.
dead which is the 7th that has come. Col. Millers Boy came for the
Bull48
The weather has changed much colder this evening. Murf reports
that he has maschsoned
49
850 sheaves wheat, this day and yeasterday.
I am informed that Caroline50
pilferd money from Helena. I
Recd By the mail this evening 2 papers the 15 & 16 and 17 & 18 am
missing the 12 & 13. Ned and Jupe in the Boat. Small Receipts.
Quite cold this evening.

48.
Blackford kept a blooded bull which he let his friends and neighbors use
to improve their cattle.

49.
No longer in common usage, the verb masch meant to beat or thresh, hence
to beat the grain from the sheaves of wheat.

to Boonsg, gave him $2.50 to purchase coffee sugar and Ink. Murf and
Enoch geting out wheat. Will assisting M Shellman to cut Shingle timber.
They broke the handle of the saw. Sent Enoch for the wagon &
cart and sent the saw to have mended. Franklin returned from Boonsg
Brought sugar Coffee and Ink, paid for them $2 a 12 1/2 Licklider sent
again for the amt. of his Extravegant Harness mending account. Mrs.
Eaton left gone to S. Town. Elizabeth came up with the child. I
bought half Bishel oysters and a string of Pearch Pd
37 1/2 Murf reports
500 sheaves got out this day Shellman called a few minutes this
evening. Enoch brought the wagons home the cart and saw not done.
Ned & Jupe in the Boat -

21st Sunday.
Morning Cloudy and looks like snow might soon fall.
The air is cold, it froze last night a white frost this morning. a ewe had
twins last night one of the lambs dead this morning C Knode and little
son Elizabeth and Child came spent the day and dined with us on Peafowl
Mrs. B. is still confined to Bed she sits up some little. Michael
Swiger called after candle light. has been down at J. Knode's says
he is in search of coment stone
51
that wants to ingage to take down the
canal. he give me to understand that wished to stay all night I shewed
him to Bed. little Miss Pennal staid with Helena. William slept in
the Room with them. Ned and Jupe in the Boat

22nd Monday. Weather,
morning clear and cool froze some little during
the last night. Michael Swiger remained for breckfast. went out to
examine for sement stone. I am to write to him stateing the price I
will take pr. pearch for the privilage to qu[a]rry them. Doct. Parran
called to see Mrs. B. James Elgen
52
called. wants a team to haul a load
lime from Sharplessy Kiln. Helena wrote to her brother Henry.
53 sent
Enoch to Sharpsg. for the cart sent $1 to purchase sugar. Murf treading
out wheat. Will gone to the woods to help Shellman who is not there
but at Sharpsg. drunk, Jonathan Miller called, eat his dinner, and I
paid him for makeing 2640 shingles $8.27. Shellman brought the saw
from Sharpsburgh him and Miller went down to the ferry House. I
rode out to shew two free negroes where to cut wood. four Germans
called want wood to cut. Will has cut some wood Murf has done
sheaves 500 Enoch returned with the cart at dark. Ned & Jupe in the
Boat. Small Business.

51.
There was a quarry on the plantation but for some reason Blackford refused
to sell the lime - or as Blackford called it cement - stone to Michael Swiger
or Swigart of Washington, D. C.

52.
James Elgen of Shepherdstown was a business associate of Franklin and a
friend of the Blackford family.

53.
Henry V. S. Blackford, second son of John, was a student at the Mercersburg
(Pennsylvania) Academy. Page 11

23rd Tuesday.
Weather clear morning. Cold a large white frost the
ground slightly froze. recd two papers by the last nights mail. which
gives the number the 12th & 13th has been detained untill last night it
came with the 19th & 20th. Murf & Enoch geting out wheat. Will helping
Martin who he says has resumed his work. Helena gone to S. Town
gave her $2. to purchase some small articles. Received a lettle from Jos.
I. Merrick54
enclosing one from A. Barnes55
to him of the 13th Inst.
have got out 500 sheaves this day Widowns and two free negroes cuting
cord wood Prisila Miller56
came home with Helena M Shellman
called sober wants tobacco. gave Will 12 1/2
to buy him some Ned and
Jupe in the Boat

24th Wednesday. Weather
continues moderate freezing at night and
thawing in the day Murf & Enoch get out 400 sheaves wheat and in all
2700 sheaves. quit and caned up. Franklin & Enoch hauled him a load
fire wood. Will hung up in the smoak house the poort of our first
Butcher 18 hoggs. makes 108 pieces ham shoulder & midlings took down
pieces old Bacon which he placed in a Hogshed sold Isaac Widows one
side 10 1/2 a 10 cents a pound. Mrs. Juett her daughter and Miss
Welchons called spent some time supped and returned home. Martin
Shellman spliting shingle wood Widows & the 2 free negroes cuting
wood I rode out to see them in the evening. a young man called with
S. Costs57
account which he left amt. $13.12 1/2 Ned and Jupe in the
Boat small Business.

25th Thursday.
Weather changed first fair then cloudy then fair and
pleasant. Mrs. & Miss Gibon & Miss Hammond called to see Mrs. B.
spent but a few minutes Urias Knode his wife and David Knode
58 called
Murf Enoch & Caroline cleaning wheat. Will cuting and sawing shingle
timber with Martin Shellman The Bay mare Bill had a nail in her
hind foot which I drew out. Urias K and wife went home after dinner
David rode down to see Franklin & Joseph Knode returned this evening.
Miss Prisila Miller is here since Tuesday. There is at this 8
lambs. Murf and Enoch finished passing the wheat twice through the
windmill which does not make it clean. Enoch Brought 5 bags from J.
Knodes Ned and Jupe in the Boat. This day the weather has been
fine spring weather.

54.
Joseph I. Merrick, a well known lawyer and business man in Hagerstown,
Maryland, was Blackford's business agent and attorney.

55.
A. Barns of Baltimore was heavily indebted to Blackford. Barns finally became
bankrupt and Blackford lost the large sum of money he had lent him.

57.
Samuel Costs, a merchant of Boonsboro with whom Blackford did business.

58.
Urias Knode and his brother David were relatives of Mrs. Blackford. Page 12

26th Friday.
weather Remarcable moderate and as mild as Spring. a
sprinkle of Rain fell during the night. David Knode remained all night
and left here after Breckfast for his brother Uriases. Murf & Enoch
measured up 68 1/4 wheat it being what was out of 2700 sheaves - he sat
out with it for Mummas mill. Franklin has gone on with him to see it
measured - Mrs. Swearingen Henry and McFarlen came. - little
George59
taken strangely with a fainting spell quite insensable for a short
time. suppose worms to have caused the spell. Mrs. S & Mrs Henry
went home after they supped Mrs. McFarlen remained. her son John
came both to spend the night - Rebecah Neff
60 Brought Murfs & Neds
coats which her mother has made. 8 hands cuting in the clearing including
Will & Martin Franklin reports that there is brought from S.
Mummas mill 2 Bbls S. fine flour 1595 w Bran. 1 Bbl of the flour
changed to F.B. Ned & Jupe in the Boat. -

27th Saturday.
Weather. morning cloudy and commenced at 8. Oclock
to snow hail and Rain all together. Murf and Daph unloaded the wagon
and put the Bran away and deld the Bbl flour to Franklin. Then went
to hauling plank and pailings from the saw mill. Isaac Widows came
from the wood cuting wanted money or an order. I gave him neither.
Mrs. McFarlin her son Miss Naff and Miss P. Miller all here. It has
changed to snowing in turn and that very fast, all the afternoon. Shellman
came up in the evening he is prety well soaked. wanted an order
for a shirt I gave little George a doase Calomel last nigh 5 grains and
caster oyl this morning he has discharged worms and is quite peart.
Ned and Jupe in the Boat. Seased snowing at dark and no more fell
all night.

28th Sunday. Weather
is moderate tho the ground is covered with snow
it is not cold. some wind clouds and the wind blowing some from N
West. Rebecah Naff walked home before Breckfast this morning, Martin
came up from Franklins is a little drunk. the two free negroes went
off for Sharpsburg J Knode rode up eat dinner and spent the afternoon
Mrs. McFarlin & son John & Miss P. Miller are here. could not well
leave on account of the snow. Will reports a yew to have two lambs
last night under the straw house the snow is very much reduced in the
course of the day by the wind and sun. It appears like freezing tonight
- Mrs. B. has sat up moast of this day. Ned & Jupe in the Boat.

29th Monday. Weather
changed. cold the last night froze and this
morning the wind has sprang up and is now blowing. Cold from the
N.W. Franklin called up gave him a Doore latch and fixing for one of

59.
George was a young slave.

60.
Rebecca Neff or Nafe was the daughter of the Blackford seamstress. Page 13

the Doores of the ferry House. Martin Shellman ground his ax directed
Will to take the last killing of pork out of the Hogshed preparitory to
hanging it up to smoak. gave to John McFarlin Mr. Deary's
61 account
with an order on George Rynolds for $11.40 him and his mother left
here after dinner. Will went to the woods to cut after taking out the
meat. Martin went out to split wood for Franklin Murf and Enoch
resumed geting out wheat with the revolving machine and horses. have
got out 750 sheaves J. Ks wife sent the girl up with some Tripe for
Mrs. B. who has sat up moast of this day and is recovering rapidly from
her illness. There was no paper came by this evening mail. Isaiah
came home in the stage from Boosg. Ned and Jupe in the Boat very
small receipts from the ferry -

30th Tuesday.
Weather morning cold and cloudy. has the appearance of
snow - Will hanging up in the smoke house the last Butchering of Pork
of 16 hoggs which was butchered the 28th of December. - Martin Shellman
is drunk and not doing any work old Nicholas called he is not sober
says he came from the wood cuting. complains of its being too cold to
work. Some little snow fell about 12 Oclock then ceased. I am informed
of the Bell mares situation supposed she has the lock jaw
Franklin bled her she is very Bad must die I suppose - Mr. Raw called
wants to borrow money. Will hauled a load wood with the ox cart for
Frann Murf & Enoch geting out wheat. Isaiah pounding hominy sent
him to S. Town Brought coffee pd. $1 and Brought shoes twice. J.Ks
wife called spent some time supped with us then went home.

31st Wednesday.
Weather cold morning calm. The Bay Bell mare
died last night occationed from a nail which she by some means got into
her near hind foot five or six days since Murf and Enoch geting out
wheat Will gone to the woods to cut wood. Isaac Widows called and
beged me for 2 Bushel corn says the family has no bread. a man from
the Forge called wants wood to cut. I wrote a letter to Michael Swigart.
Welch called says he worked 15 1/2 days at the sheds & 6 at ferry House
at $1 pr. day is $15.50 nailed
on 6800 shingles on the Barn and smoke
house at Shepherd Farm which charged 25 cents per hundred or $2.50
pr. thousand and pulling off the old roof amt. $17.00 in all $32.50.
Murf & Enoch report they have got out 1650 sheaves William reports
that Nicholas skined the Bay mare and Murf hauled her to the woods.
gave Murf a new coat good Linsey Martin Shellman at Sharpsg. drunk.
Ned & Jupe in the Boat.

61.
Francis Deary was a school master in Boonsboro to whom Blackford later
sent his son William. Page 14

February 1838

1st Thursday. Weather
continues cold cloudy this morning and looks
likely to snow, Franklin and J. Elgin called took one No. of the
Encyclopedia1
- Catherine & Mary Miller came. Nicholas M.
2 called let
him have 2 side old Bacon 8 1/2 w Murf & Enoch treading out wheat.
Will gone to the wood cuting. there is none but him and George Nicholas
and his man cuting so reports Nicholas.
3 Catherine &
Mary Helena &
Prisila Miller all four and Wm. went down to Franklins to eat oysters
returned and dined then the girls sat off home F. and Elgin went with
them. F. rode my mare. his wife is at her fathers went there last evening.
Carpenter called gave him 56 cents for work done some time since
Franklin and Engin returned from Sharpsburgh brought the dog Wallis
that went with Shellman who is there drunk for the last two days, Ned
& Jupe in the Boat - very little done.

2nd Friday.
Weather changeable morning Snowing some little then
quit S. M. Hitt called offers his farm in Virginia asks $60. pr.
acre he paid me $60.37 1/2 on account of premium which should have
been $120.63 3/4 by calculation.
4
Will gone to the woods to cut. I
see by a memom.. which I made that the off fall had from S.
Hitt was 1343 w. Franklin came says Elizabeth
5 has returned
lent him $5. The Red whiteface cow had a heifer calf last
night in the stable. Enoch gone with the ox cart to haul
some wood for Franklin. The River is froze over below the landing.
Murf & Enoch report 2700 sheaves wheat got out. Helena recd a

1.
John Blackford possessed a "Large collection of valuable books" said the
Hagerstown Mail, November 29, 1839. It
included encyclopaedias, files of The
American Farmer and several newspapers, a set of American
State Papers,
histories, the classics, and biographies. Among the latter were John Marshall,
Life of George Washington in five volumes and
Plutarch's Lives.

2.
Nicholas Matua or Matern was an elderly, poverty-stricken Greek immigrant
sometimes employed by Blackford who occasionally gave him bacon and other
supplies. He was a bad character. See entry for February 3.

3.
George Nicholas of Shepherdstown hired himself and his slave to cut wood
and do other farm work at Ferry Hill.

4.
Blackford held stock in the Baltimore Life Insurance Company and had sold
Hitt a policy in this company.

5.
Elizabeth, Franklin Blackford's wife, had been on a visit to her father. Page 15

letter from Henry by the mail this evening. I received one from Samuel
Bentz asking for money. Two patriot papers came this mail. the 26.27
& 31 & 1st. Febry the 29 & 30 having been received by the Wednesday
nights mail. Ned & Jupe in the Boat very little done. Cloudy and looks
likely to snow before morning Prisila Miller here all this week.

3rd Saturday. Weather
Cloudy has fallen a Snow during the past night
two inches deep - Mrs. Fry6
called says Nicholas Matern has abused and
threatened her in such a manner last evening that she had him taken
before a magistrate and gave security for his better behaviour. I gave
her parmition to move into the cottage
7 untill spring.
J. Knode is hauling
her goods up. Negroe free George called to ask for money for wood
cuting did not give him any - Murf & Enoch caveing up
8 preparitory
to cleaning up. Will hauling fire wood with oxen and cart. Martin
Shellman has come up from Sharpsg. where he has been drunk for the
last three of four days. Helena & P. Miller rode over to S. Town Eliza
Miller returned with Helena. Will Hauled Franklin one cart load wood
and some he had sawed and split by the road side.

4th Sunday. Weather
cloudy and cold. Franklin Elgan Eliza Miller
and Helena went to Sharpsg in the Sleigh on the Bare ground as the
small quantity of snow and that very light rendered no service to the
sleighing. They returned in the evening with Elenora Miller with them.
Elizabeth spent the day with Mrs. B. and myself and dined with us.
She returned home in the sleigh after they came from Sharpsg. The
River is covered prety much over with Ice. Except a curved channel
for the Boat to pass. Will reports 11 lambs. - The thermometer has
ranged between 4 & 8 degrees below freezing point for the last three
or four days. Mrs. B. is still confined to her room. This siting up and
recovering her strength. Ned and Jupe in the ferry Boat a very small
Business doing.

5th Monday. Weather cold and cloudy.
Mrs. Nafe came early. Miss
Eliza and Ellen Miller here. Murf and Enoch went to cleaning wheat.
Eliza Miller walked home after breckfast. Mrs. Nafe went to sewing.
Will went to the woods to cuting. Morrison called says him and his
son is cuting wood wants 2 loads wood one for himself and one for his
son. Daphney cleaning out the Ice House. Capt. Ashberry
9 returned

6.
Mrs. Israel Fry practiced midwifery and was called in by John Blackford to
attend his slave women in child birth.

7.
This cottage, known as The Stone Cottage, was situated on the Potomac River
near the Ferry landing.

8.
To "cave up" was to separate grain, which had been beaten or trod from the
chaff, with a rake or similar tool.

9.
Captain Ashberry of Shepherdstown was a friend and business associate of
Franklin Blackford. Page 16

from Washington last night. Ned & Jupe in the Boat. Recd. a letter
dated Washington the 2d. Int. from M Swigart by post. I had wrote
him 6 days since by mail.

6th Tuesday. Weather has
moderated. The morning calm and pleasant.
a young man named Mintstagh drowned was sceating near the lift lock
broke through the Ice. he was a shoemaker to trade, and a connection
of the Crokers family. Murf has gone to Mummas Mill with a load of
wheat. Franklin gone on ahead to have the grey mare shod and see the
wheat measured at the Mill. Will cleaning out the Ice House Ashberry
Elgan & Eaty geting out Ice to fill Franklin Ice House The Shepherds
Town people are geting out Ice commenced yesterday. Mrs. Nafe
sewing. Helena Elen Miller & Wm. gone down to J.Ks. Enoch went to
the Mill with a Bag corn and brought Buckwheat flour to amt. of 3
bushels Buckwheat which is to be sent to Mr. Staubs. Franklin returned
brought S. Mummas receipt for 55 B. 11 w wheat deld. this day.
There is now in that mill 182 B. 23 w had the horses shod at Millers
Shop. Murf brought home a load wood from the clearing and took the
wagon Body full of the old straw and stuff from the Ice House to the
Barnyard. Ned and Jupe in the Boat. Still a very small business at
the ferry. Receipts are very small.

7th Wednesday. Weather
changed this morning. Cloudy a damp cold
air from the east. Commenced hauling Ice from the river to the Ice
house Murf & Enoch with the wagon and Will in the house Breaking.
Franklin was at the River assisting to load and geting out Ice Nicholas
Martin Mrs. Fry's son and a German. Sent William down to inform
J. Knode I wanted him to haul Morrison 2 cords wood to Sharpsg
which he said he would do. Joseph Gauf called to ingage to cut wood.
directed him when to cut. I rode out. Morrison and J. Gauf cutting.
J. Knode loading the second load cord wood for Morrison requested
him to haul one for negroe George, Helena & Ellen Miller went over to
S. Town, gave H. 62 1/2 to purchase some small articles. 12 wagon loads
Ice put in the house this day. Mrs. Eaton came this afternoon. J. K.
hauled 3 cords wood to Sharpsg. 2 for Morrison & 1 for negroe George
to Coon the Taylor.10

8th Thursday. Weather morning
soft and thawing. Rained smartly in
the early part of last night. resumed hauling Ice. J. Knode came after
Breckfast with his wagon and joined in the hauling. have hauled 13 loads
and 12 yeasterday is 25 in the House say about 23 good loads as some
hauled this day was not full; about the middle of the afternoon the[y]

10.
Free Negro George cut the wood, sold the wood to one Coon a tailor, and
Joseph Knode hauled the wood to Coon. Page 17

finished here and then commenced filling the Ice House at the ferry
House put in 4 loads. Franklin has ingaged at the Ice Martin Shellman
Israel Fry a German and Indians. Mrs. Nafe Mrs. Eaton & Elenora
Miller here. has the appearance of clearing this morning. the wind is
from the N.W. has been quite warm. most of this day and thawed prety
much it may freze some this night. Ned & Jupe in the Boat. very
limited Business. Will is pounding the Ice.

9th Friday. Weather
changed somewhat colder. Sat out after Breckfast
for Boonbg. met Mary Miller and Miss Cambell between home and
Sharpsg. arrived at Boonh. 12 Oclock after haveing met S. Bentz & wife
I paid Lawson Welk $222.00 the Balance of Jno. A. & S. Bentz & Co.
a/c and took their Receipt in full which states $222.66[.] paid Samuel
Costs a/c in full $11.87 1/2. I Bought some goods to amt. of $15.09 on
credit. I dined at Doct. Smiths and sat out from there 1/2 after 3 ocl.
Called at Col. Millers bought a Phial of worm destroying medicine pd .25
and 12 1/2 at Bruckharts for my mare.
11 the hands report
20 loads Ice put
in the lower House and 2 loads more brought up to this house Murf
drunk. him and Caroline has behaved bad. J. Knode all day with his
wagon & Team Martin Nicholas Israel the German Murf Will and
Enoch, all working at the Ice. Ned & Jupe in the Boat.

10th Saturday. weather changed
colder still froze hard last night. my
goods brought by the stage charges 25 cents Mrs. Nafe went off home
after Breckfast. Murf & Enoch put the two loads Ice brought up yeasterday
evening into the house which will be 25 wagon loads in the
house. They then went to hauling fire wood hauled 4 loads. Will pileing
up plank. Franklin and J. K gone to Sharpsg. Patrick Welch called
and proved an account against Charles Nourse I requested him to give
an answer as respects his keeping the house in Shepherd Town.
12
Ann Miller & Mrs. Eaton here. this day has continued cold very little
thawed Ned and Jupe in the ferry Boat. a very small business. Morrison
and his son cuting wood. none others of the cuters for the last
two days. I remained in the office all this day. Weather rough and
unpleasant out.

11th Sunday. Weather Rough
windy & cold the Ice moveing. started
by the wind blowing. gave Martin an order to Nicholases wife for a pair
gloves price 25 cents. Elizabeth & child and J.Ks wife and little son
came, dined with us and returned to their homes in the evening. Helena
Ann Miller and William went down to the lower house with them.

11.
Bruckhart kept a livery stable in Boonsboro which was often patronized
by Blackford.

12.
Patrick Welch rented a house in Shepherdstown owned by John Blackford. Page 18

Wm. finger pained and kept him from sleap all the early part of the
night. Ned made no return.

12th Monday. Weather
continues cold. Ice still moveing slowly on,
which the past night has increased. Mrs. Nafe came this morning.
half after 8 oclock. Mrs. Fry called to see about wood and to know if
she could keep the house for a year. Murf and Enoch to getting out
wheat. Will sheling a Bag corn and delivered 3 Bushels Buckwheat for
which we have the flour last week. Mrs. Eaton left here after breckfast
for Shepherds Town. Nicholas called let him have a midling old Bacon
4 w. asked him conserning the afray between him and Mrs. Fry.
Franklins stove from Webb Will brought over in the cart. he took over a
bag corn. The two free negroes came this evening to assume their wood
cutting. I refused them to grind on my stone. Ned came up this evening,
but small receipts.

13th Tuesday. Weather cloudy
in the morning. about 12 hailed and
snowed. J. K. came up and assisted to Butcher the steer. C. K. &
Jennett with her babe came in Mrs. Chaneys little carriage the carriage
returned immediately. gave Franklin a peck hominy corn. which
Martin shelled and pounded and Brick to cloose his fireplace. Will took
over in the cart the hide and to bring a Bag Corn meal Murf and Enoch
geting out wheat, report 1700 sheaves yeasterday and this day. C. K
sick after his arrival. The ground is covered an inch and better with
hail and snow. Ned & Jupe in the Boat. Very small Receipts. very
little crossing. This is winter weather.

14th Wednesday. Valuntines
Wednesday. Williams Birthday. Morning
cloudy. J. K. came up cut up the Beef & returned. Murf and Enoch
geting out wheat Will assisting about the Beef cuting wood short &ct.
The lock Keeper from the lock above called says Rogers
13 noticed two
logs which I have in the Canal. his name is Girm
14 Franklin brought his
wife and child up in his Sleigh. but poor sleighing not snow sufficient,
is thawing this afternoon. Will took down the hams of bacon which have
been some smoked and I had them diped in weak lye and then sprinkled
well with ground Black pepper I put 3 w on the hams. Jennett wrote
a note to the Doct. and I wrote an order for 25 w sugar and 3 w Raisins
to S. Bentz to be sent by the stage driver this night. Ned and
Jupe in the Boat. Very small receipts -

13.
G. W. Rogers was an official at one of the dams on the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal above Ferry Hill.

14.
Despite the lock keeper's warning Blackford failed to remove the logs and
on March 11 Rogers himself called on Blackford and threatened action. Page 19

15th Thursday. Weather
morning cloudy and Rained & snowed some
little, Catherine & Mary Miller came wrote a note and sent Enoch to
Corbans for some apples. Murf hauled Franklin a load wood. then him
& Will went to geting out wheat. Mrs. Nafe is still here sewing makeing
some shirts for myself. Sent Isaiah to S. Town gave him 37 1/2 to
purchase Brooms and Buttons. he returned and brought 12 1/2 cents
would not pass. Catherine & Mary dined with us and returned home
in the evening Enoch returned brought 3/4 B. apples reports that all are
well 1/2 Bushel of the Apples from G. fathers Corbans hand is sore Ned
& Jupe in the Boat. still little doing.

16th Friday. Weather
morning cloudy dark cold unpleasant. has hailed
last night and is hailing and freezing through the day. Prisila Miller
here came yeasterday. Snowed and hailed this afternoon for an hour
briskly. Cleared off about sun set and then came on a sevear Blow of
wind almost a harican which drifted the snow that had so lately fell
and continued to Blow nearly all night and was very cold. made much
Ice on the River Ned is reported to be sick. no return of this days Business
Murf Enoch and Will at the Barn geting out wheat &ct &ct.

17th Saturday. Weather cold and windy
The past night has been the
coldest this winter there is two or three Inches snow hail and Ice on the
ground this morning. Murf reports 2600 sheaves of wheat got out since
Monday. Sent Will to S. Town for some articles to the store for
which he pd. $1.72 1/2 assisted over with a wagon then cut off some wood
at the house. Doct. Smith came and dined and returned home Franklin
and Capt. Ashberry and William gone in the Sleigh to Sharpsburgh.
Murf and Enoch have been rakeing off and caveing up the wheat. Mrs.
Naff gone home . sent Isaiah with her on my mare. Isaac Widows
called wants meat Bread and money gave him none negro George came
gave him $1 to purchase a hat. Murf hauled two loads wood one of
which for Franklin. did not finish caveing up the wheat Ned came up
this evening.

18th Sunday. weather clear with some
little wind. J. K's wife rode up
in the morning and spent the day. Franklin and Joseph Knode went in
the sleigh to G. fathers - Elizabeth and child came up after dinner spend
an hour and returned home as did J. Ks wife. Prisila Miller went home
Jennett and Babe here. Ned & Jupe in the Boat

19th Monday. weather clear and more
moderated - Franklin had a horse
in the sleigh to Hedricks. Licklider sent to me again for money gave
him none 4 men called to get wood to cut. Mr. Shay called wants sand

for the furnace.15
Will and Martin went to the woods to cuting shingle
timber. Ellen Hiser called to rent a room says she lives at Mrs. Lines,
sent Caroline down to assist Elizabeth Murf & Enoch cleaning up wheat.
I rode out to the clearing. Widows puting up his wood. Morrison &
son the two negroes Nicholas all cuting. Brien got sand. Franklin got
a Bee hive from Corban and one from Hedrick Murf has put the wheat
through the fan the first time. Ned & Jupe in the Boat. small receipts
has thawed prety much

20th Tuesday. Weather clear
reather pleasant Jennett & child with
Helena and little negroe Ann sat out after 10 Oclock for Boonboro.
Franklin driving the carriage to whome I gave Stagdon & Stokes account
to hand to Shafer the Tavern Keeper gave Helena $1 and Jennett a
memom to get some articles at Bentzes store. Murf sat out for Mummas
Mill with a load wheat has J. Knodes Black man in the team Doct.
Quigley16 called wants
money for Mrs. Swearingen recd a letter by last
nights mail from the Revd Mr. Johns
17
asking for money the Balance of
his a/c $82.40 as stated again. Will and Martin cutting shingle timber
he reports 3 additional hands joined the wood cuting Isaac Widows
called says he has been cuting wood paid him $1 he wants everything.
Murf returned from Mummas Mill where he deld 52 B 41 w wheat.
Franklin returned at sun set, has changed very cold. Brought sundry
goods from J. A. & S. Bentz & Co. amt. $4.65 1/2. Murf hauled a load
wood. Ned & Jupe in the Boat. tolerable Business.

21st Wednesday.
Weather clear and very cold. the last night the coldest
this winter. the Ink froze for the first time in the office. the River is
closed this morning with Ice. Murf and Enoch loaded the wagon with
wheat and Murf sat out for Mummas Mill directed Will to assist Ned to
cut the Ice for to pass the Boat. Negro Will belongs to Grove called
gave him wood to cut he is to commence tomorrow. - Franklin called to
get change for a 10 Dollar note. has Bought a horse from Emert at $45.
between him Ashberry Elgen have formed a partnership to run a Boat
with marketing Martin Shellman called is prety much disused with
liquor Murf returned from the mill Brought Bran for Franklin. he deld.
52 Busl 49 w wheat. says he had the horses shoes roughed at Kribzers
shop Murf is pretty well done says he got it at the ferry House Ned
and Jupe in the Boat. small receipts -

15.
Shay was a workman at the furnace belonging to John M. Brinn of the
Antietam Iron Works.

16.
Doctor John Quigley was Mrs. Henry T. Van Swearingen's son-in-law and
business agent. He sought payment of Mrs. Swearingen's share in the Ferry
receipts.

17.
The Reverend Mr. L. H. Johns was the rector of an Episcopal church in
Sharpsburg of which the Blackfords were communicants. Page 21

22nd Thursday. Washingtons
the anniversary of his birth. The Shepherds
Town folks are making some music and firing some platoons of
small arms. The Weather is considerably moderated clear and calm.
Henry, Rye James H Elgen & Franklin called. Elgen confessed judgment
on a warrant which Patrick Welch had issued and served on him
for $26.13 3/4 which Franklin superseded for him for 6 months. Costs 58
cents not paid paid me 25 cents for the Judment & supersedes
18 Murf
& Enoch geting out wheat Will gone to the clearing to assist Martin to
cut shingle Timber - William rode down to J. Ks with sugar & Coffee
& beef Franklin rode up looking for little negroe John who he suspects
for pilfering some pieces of money. a letter from Henry B. to C. K came
by the last nights mail and one from Miss Bell to Helena. Franklin says
he bought Elgens debt from Welch. Will reports that Groves negroe
man Will was cutting. Ned & Jupe in the Boat.

23rd Friday. weather morning
cold and cloudy. Mrs. B. has a bad pain
in her stomach and bowels. J. K. came up for the wagon Body. took his
Bags says he bt. a horse from Detrich gave $45 and his colt. Murf &
Enoch geting out wheat. Will gone to the clearing to cut shingle timber.
Mrs. Williams son Charles came over. two Scotch men called one of
them wanted to rent part of my house in S. Town - he says he works
with Price in the factory the other lives at Reynolds mill named Jack
Mr. & Mrs. Hargrave and Mrs. Quigley
19 called supped with us and
returned. It has thawed some in the middle of this day. the evening
turned cold. I have recd my Balto. regularly this week some corn
crossing for Brien at the forge. Will reports 12 lambs now liveing.
Ned and Jupe in the ferry Boat. continue to do a very small Business.

24th Saurday.
Weather continues cold it is clear and thawing some
where the sun shines. the wind which is light is cold. Franklin has
taken the wagon and team put his horse in befor on the off side him &
Ashberry went to the woods for a load fire wood. Murf & Enoch geting
out wheat. Will in the clearing with Martin cuting shingle timber untill
dinner when they quit Franklin hauled 2 loads wood for himself and one
cord for me Will helped load. it was cut by the free negroes which is 3
cords of their cuting hauled 2 of which brought home and 1 taken to
Sharpsg for George Snavely hauled by J. Knode Ned & Jupe in the
Boat.

25th Sunday. Weather continues
cold this morning is clear and calm.
Elizabeth spent part of the day with us, dined and returned in the

18.
This is an example of Blackford's services or duties as a justice of the
peace.

evening. Franklin here for a few minutes. Mrs. Williams son Charles
here most of the day. Helena absent with her sister in Boonsg - Ned
and Jupe in the boat. small Business. -

26th Monday. Weather
morning clear and cold the river covered with
prety strong Ice. Sent Enoch down to J. K.s he sat out with his wagon
very early for Harrisburgh Pensa I wished him to do some business for
me in Hagers Town Will gone with Martin to cut shingle timber. Murf
& Enoch geting out wheat in the Barn. wrote a letter to The Reved. Mr.
Johns stateing that I could pay his acct. in Canal money Franklin got
away the stove and pipe. Enoch hauled it down for him. directed Will
to Butcher the calf which is 3 weeks & 2 days old it is from the Red
white faced cow a heifer calf Recd by this nights mail my Balt. &
Richmond papers and a letter from Henry dated the 23 requesting me to
send him money $70 to pay his Board and Tuition
20 Ned and Jupe in
the Boat - The River continues covered with Ice. Cold weather

27th Tuesday. Weather cold and
cloudy Patrick Welch called to say
that he would not keep my house in Shepherds Town Says G. Price will
rent it. recd. the sugar came by the stage last night. suppose 25 w
N. O sent by S. Bentz. Will and M. Shellman sawing shingle timber in
the clearing all the people cuting there except Widows he is absent I
rode to Sharpsg. Bot a vest patern from Md Mackay
Trimings & Ribon
paid $2.93 3/4. Dulony cut it and a pair pantaloons of the Casimer
bot.
at Boong. Mrs. Nafe promises to come on Monday next to sew had my
mares shoes removed. Murf and Enoch geting out wheat in the Barn.
Ned and Indians in the ferry Boat a midling Business done -

28th Wednesday. Weather.
clear and more pleasant is thawing after the
sun was up to some hight. Murf and Enoch finished geting out the crop
of Wheat. They Report 2800 Sheaves at the last and before 2700 the
first cleaning up, the next 2600 in all. 8100 sheaves. which averages
about 3 Bushel of wheat to the hundred sheaves which is considered a
poor yeald. C. Knode and Wm rode down to J. Knodes, he is absent
gone to Pensya with his wagon removing a family from the forge. Helena
is absent at Boonsboro with her sister Smith. Margaret Fry called to
say her mother wanted half cord wood hauled directed Murf to haul her
the wood and haul home two loads Nicholas called got a side of bacon 13
w has been cuting wood him and his wife. Brother. Negroe Caroline is
laid up with an injury which she recd by a fall
on Sunday while playing
in the Barnyard. Ned and Jupe in the Boat.

20. Henry
V. S. Blackford was attending the Mercersburgh Academy. Blackford
later paid an additional $100.00 on his board and tuition. Page 23

March 1838

1st Thursday. Weather moderated the morning
clear. afternoon clouds
over. Mrs. Fry is gone to Sharpsg. to see after a house Murf and Enoch
commenced cleaning wheat. Will gone to the clearing to assist Martin
to cut and saw shingle timber. Franklin Brought me a letter from the
Sharpsburgh post office from John Coburn Washington City on the subject
of cement stone.1
wrote a note to Mr. Mantz respecting the ferriages
of the wagons taking corn to the forge likewise a note to Doct. Parran
to call and see the girl Caroline, lent Franklin my Patriot paper for
Bushrod Herbert who wishes to see the acct. of the Duel fought by
Graves and Cilley.2
Doct. Parran called and prescribed for Caroline
salts and rub the swolen parts with spirits in which
Indian pepper is
straped.3 Ned &
Jupe in the Boat. This day I am informed the mail
commenced crossing every dat 3 Trips with Stage pr week and 3 on
horseback.

2nd Friday. Weather. It has
began to snow before daylight and continued,
now 10 Oclock, by spells. Murf and Enoch cleaning up wheat.
Will went out to the clearing he returned as it continued to snow. assisted
Murf to load the wagon with wheat which he sat off with for the
mill. Enoch took a note over to Mr. Webb requesting him to Exchange
some money for me he Brought a Bag corn meal and my Balto. Patriot
of the 28 and March 1st which was yeasterday. This came by the
new arangement of the mail. Sent Enoch the second time to Mr. Webb
who has Exchanged 50 dollars for me gave me Hagers Town Notes
for small paper alias shin plasters. Murf returned from Mummas Mill
where he deld 64 B 41 w Wheat. Brot Franklin a load wood from the

1. For some
unknown reason Blackford refused to sell cement stone to Coburn as
he had earlier refused to sell to Michael Swigert also of Washington.

2. William
Jordan Graves (1802-1848), native of Kentucky and Whig member
of the United States House of Representatives (1835-1841), killed Jonathan
Cilley (1802-1838), native of New Hampshire and Democratic member of the
House of Representatives from Maine (1837-1838), in a duel at Turnecliffe's
Bridge near Bladensburg, Maryland, on February 24, 1838. A committee of the House investigated the duel and made a long report back to the House which took no further action.

3. Caroline,
a slave girl, had fallen and injured herself while playing in Blackford's
barnyard on February 25. Page 24

clearing as he returned brought the Torch light
4 and was prety tolerable
drunk. Ned and Jupe in the Boat. The Business light.

3rd Saturday. Weather clear
and pleasant. I rode to Sharpsg after writing
a letter to Henry and Enclosing $70 to him but not meeting with
Mr. Brimbarger I brought the letter home again. Will assisting Martin
to saw shingle Timber Murf finished cleaning up the wheat and gone to
Mummas Mill with it. he lost a Bushel yeasterday on the road. setled
with Samuel Mumma and paid him $6.41 1/2 the balance due his brother
Johns estate. took his receipt on the account I dined at Col. Millers.
Murf returned from the mill some time after night. deld. 52 Bushels
wheat as per Receipt which is the balance of the corp of wheat

4th Sunday. weather a large
white frost. this morning the day clear and
pleasant. I rode to Sharpsburgh after Breckfast with an expectation of
meeting with Mr. Brimbarger in which I was disapointed. attended in
the Episcopal Church at 11 Oclock where I heard Mr. Johns deliver a
sermon. returned and dined at Col. Millers with Mrs. Hoffmire and
Miss Campbell at two Oclock attend in the German Reformed Church
where Mr. Hoffmire delivered a sermon. Catherine Miller is confined to
bed with sickness. After seeing her in her room I returned home where I
found J. Ks wife and Elizabeth who had been spending a short time with
Mrs. B. sent J Ks wife on horseback home the roads being so muddy
Enoch & Isaiah has been very rude and Wm. likewise Ned and Jupe
in the Boat. have a tolerable Business. -

5th Monday. The weather morning
Raining snowing and hailing had
fallen smart snow before day light it continued to be a fall untill afternoon
when it broak off to the west. I finished my letter to Henry and
wrote one to Mr. John Coburn in Washington. sent them to the office
by Will who took a lock to Rickhart to have repaired he brought the
patriot of Friday & Saturday 2 & 3. The stage crossed and recrossed
with the mail in the early part of this day. Isaac Widows called paid
him $2.25 on account of wood cuting. Murf and Enoch brought a load
of wood this morning from the clearing. which he reports the 5th
cord from free John & George cutting recd a note from Helena and
sent by return of stage a note and a Bundle to Jannett. sent Isaiah to
Sharpg for Mrs. Nafe and a note to Mr. Renner for the old horse the boy
brought the horse he lost a note Mr. R. wrote me Mrs. Nafe came as it
was geting dusk. Ned and Jupe in the Boat Poor Poor Business

6th Tuesday. Weather Morning
Cloudy the snow and hail that fell
Sunday night nearly all disolved which has made the roads very soft

and unpleasant traveling. Martin called says he is spliting his timber,
sent Will to S. Town with 10 Bushels oats to have chopped and 2 1/2 B
corn to have ground for Bread and to have 2 Bushel Rye that is in the
mill chopped for the two old horses. Mrs. Nafe sewing at a pair pantaloons
for me. recd. anote from D. Sniveley in answer to one I wrote him
respecting the house5
Will Brought the lock and put it on the celler
doore he bought screws & muslin pd. 25 cents. J. Knode Brought up my
wagon Body which he borrowed. Murf & Enoch cleaning out the
stables and fodder hangs. C. K has gone to Sharpsg this evening rode
old poney a Marriage at the ferry house this evening by Mr. Hargrave
The Horse mail crossed and recrossed. The Ice is decreasing smartly
the last two days. Franklin hauled a load wood with the team Ned and
Jupe in the Boat

7th Wednesday. Weather morning
snowing which has commenced some
time in the night Came down very fast and is quite moderate - Sent Will
to S Town brought me some trimings for my vest pd. 37 1/2. Helena arrived
in the mail Coach about 10 Oclock brought a piece muslin 30 yds
from Bentzes & Co cost $3.75. Daph taken Ill Murf & Enoch cleaning
out stables. Mr. Renners son called with a note from his father requesting
payment for the horse $15 which I paid him in small notes.
Mrs. Fry sent for to see Daph. sent Will with a note to Doct. Parran to
come see Daph. who is very ill. he brought me a letter from John Coburn
Washington on the subject of cement stone. Isaac Widows called
sent by him a note which I wrote Samuel M. Hitt to put in the post office.
heard of old Aunt Shroders death and young Shaw in Virginia. sent by
return of stage minspie to Jennett. Doct. Parran came over in the
evening to see Daph. left medicine that relieved her. Will brought from
the mill a Bag Corn Meal & 2 Bushels Chopt Rye Ned & Jupe

8th Thursday. Weather. Morning.
Very dark with clouds&smoke
wind from N.E. looks very much like Rain. Mrs. Nafe sewing the
German who is Mrs. Frys son in law called wants money. I spoke to
him to qarry which he said he would provided the tools was found him at
87 1/2 pr day and Board himself. sent Will to S. Town with a letter to the
post office for Thos Shepherd Illanois. Murf & Enoch hauled one load
wood. Will returned from S. Town Bought caster oyl & screws pd. 31 1/4
brought a letter for Helena & my patriot of the 5 & 6 It has snowed
hailed and rained most of the day, Martin Shellman called wanted money
I gave him none. C. K is in Sharpsburgh with Poney - gave Will assifity
for horse - gave Daph a doase oyl. Daph misscarryed two children this
morning. sent for Mrs. Fry who came, she is quite ill. the two children

5. Blackford
was negotiating the rental of one of his houses in Shepherdstown
to Daniel Sniveley. Page 26

which Daph miscarryed she is supposed to have gone with 4 months
Both female. It was an hour or upwards between their birth. It is
thought she took medicine to produce their distruction.

9th Friday. Weather. the wind
from the west and it is partially clear
is not cold. the River is partially raised, is muday. I paid Mrs. Nafe
$9.50 it being in full up to this date. Sent Isaiah with her on horse back
home after breckfast. I sent the grey horse to have a shoe put on him.
C. K. came home on my mare which Mrs. Nafe rode home Isaiah waits
to have the horse shod and bring Poney home. he returned and brought
some yeast & had the horse shod. Mr. Mecany who I understand is in
the imploy of George Price called and informed me that he Mr. Price
desired him to call and inform me that he would take my house in S.
Town Repair it and give me $75 for the next year commencing the first
day of April next. Murf and Enoch pushing the straw off the Barnyard
Will hauling up g[r]avel for the walks in the yard. Isarel Fry and
two dutchmen called report that they have cut and put up 20 1/2 cord
of wood. young Greenwood called again for Lickliders claim gave him
none. Ned & Jupe in the boat

10th Saturday. Weather. Clear
partially Cool. froze some little last
night. Prices man Mecany called to say Price would not take the house
at the price offered yeasterday that if he could have the whole premices
for $75 he would take it. I presume him and Snively has had some
coalition Israel Fry called paid him $3 for the Dutchman Neopotian for
wood cuting. Philip Flemon is the name of him who is maried to Mrs.
Frys girl. Murf & Enoch has hauled one load wood home from John
& Georges cuting. I then sent them out to pick up and burn Brush.
Capt. Ashberry returned from Williamsport Will has been pidling about
doing but little. Daph is in the hospital. Mrs. B. corrected Isaiah.
Isaac Widows called gave him 25 cents. Franklin left a letter which
B. Herbert recd. from Henry. The ground is very soft which makes it
very unpleasant traveling. Will brought over from S. Town 5 Brooms
made by an old negroe at Browns. he has made 8 in all at 6 1/4 cents
each. Ned and Jupe in the Boat have done a tolerable Business.

11th Sunday. Weather. Clear and
pleasant froze the surface of the
ground last night. - The weater let into the Canal. The River riseing
is quite muddy wrote a note sent Enoch with it to Col. Miller requesting
to know the state of Catherines health. the Boy returned with an answer
that but little if any change in Catherine. Joseph Knode of Jacob.
from the Canal at Hancock came he dined spent the day and night with
us. Elizabeth and Franklin here a spell. Franklin & Elgen sat out for

Williamsport for a Boat6
borrowed my sleigh harness. they intend to
[go to] D. H. Schnebleys to night - the companys
7 scow and Boarding
House Boat came down Rogers with it has made some threats relative to
two popler logs which I have in the canal the lower level filled in the
course of the day - Ned and Jupe in the Boat a tolerable Business

12th Monday. Weather Clear fine
and pleasant. Joseph Knode left here
after Breckfast. The two popler logs came down the canal. Will secured
them. John Distonly the Taylor sent his son with his acct and an order
for me to pay which I did amt. $5.50. I rode out to the clearing. Will
and Murf burning Brush. all the wood cutters at work. Briens man
Peter came with a note from Mr. Mantz requesting a tree for forge
8
Hammer helve he cut a Beach down below the clearing. appears to be
upwards of 20 feet. Peter says they give $2.50 for a stick 12 feet. I
rode down to J. K.s looked at the cement stone.
9 Franklin & Elgen
returned in the evening report they left the Boat on the way was obstructed
by Ice the Roan mare Pete got a severe cut in her shoulder by a
nail passing through the gate. I sewed it up and put a pitch plaster on it.
Ned & Jupe and Enoch in the Boat. poor Business.

13th Tuesday. Morning.
clear and pleasant the ground froze some
during the last night. Will Murf and Enoch sowed some clover seed on
the hill part of the lower field after breckfast went to Burning Brush
Enoch went into the Boat. Franklin Ashberry & Elgen sat out early
after the Boat they bot. at Williamsport and brought a piece yesterday.
Negroe Peter called and paid for a stick of Timber for 2 forge Hammer
helves $4.50 gave me a very suspicious looking note of the Lancaster
Bank of Ohio. the wagon came to haul it down to the forge. J. Ks
wife called and spent the day saw Mr. Mantz sent from Frederick. Mrs.
Morgan Mrs. Parran and Mrs. Magill10
came over dined with us. I rode
out to new ground where the men are cuting wood. J. Ks wife went
home in the afternoon and Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Parren and her
2 children went home in the evening. Mrs. Magill remained intending
to take the stage tomorrow for Hagers Town Ned Jupe Enoch & Israel
Fry in the Boat. small Business

14th Wednesday.
Weather. the morning cloudy and somewhat cool.
Franklin came down last night with the Boat. he called to get the wagon

6.
They went to purchase a new boat for use in their river-canal marketing
business.

7.
This was the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company.

8.
This was John M. Brinn's forge at Antietam.

9.
Blackford's cement stone quarry was on the section of the plantation rented to
Joseph Knode.

& horses to haul wood this morning Martin with him, Will and Murf
burning Brush. too much wind to sow clover seed. Mrs. Fry called to
advise respecting her case with Nicholas Matua.
11 Mrs. B. and Mrs.
Magill sat out 1/2 after one Oclock in the stage for Boonsg. Helena
rode to Sharpsburgh William rode a peace with her then rode old poney
to meet her. F. hauled one load wood has gone over to Town to see
Welch about the house rent. I Widows called pd. him $2. Helena returned
and Wm. with her report Catherine Miller much Better. There
is considerable stir about the River & Canal the River is quite full rose
considerable last night and was at a stand all day commenced riseing in
the evening Ned Jupe Enoch and Israel Fry in the ferry Boat but little
done

15th Thursday.
Weather. pleasant is somewhat smoukey. J. Knode
called let him have 2 Bushels Clover seed of the old seed Kept over as
he said he had not sufficient to sow his fields. he says Col. Miller wants
2 Bushels clover seed from me if I can spear it. Will Murf & Enoch
sowed clover seed report they have gone over the whole of the lower
field and only sowed about 3/4 of a Bushel. Recd a letter from Henry
dated the 12th Rode out to the clearing with William. hands all cuting
and mauling wood. Nicholas called. and got a midling of Bacon weighed
9 w a 10¢ . 90 cents charged. Measured the wood cut by Philip Flemon
Israel Fry and Neapolian and find it to measure 20 cord. Ned Jupe
Enoch & Israel Fry in the Boat which is 3 days for Israel Small
Business

16th Friday. Weather cloudy
in the morning. Murf siveing the clover
seed and cleaning it over again Will has taken the saw says Martin has
got sober and is going to work. Miss Hizer called offers me 1 1/2 dollar
pr month for a Room in my house in S. Town Mrs. B returned from
Boonsborough at 10 Oclock in the stage She brought goods to amount of
$3.93 on credit from J. A. & S. Bentz & Co. Murf and Enoch have
sowed on the hill side in front of the house 1 B. clover seed. Mrs. Hickman
called returned the 3 dollars I had lent her last fall. she dined with
us. - I rode to Sharpsg Wm Rode the Bald poney had his hind shoes
moved directed Mr. S. Mumma to have 8 Bbl flour made especually for
families use, Bt. 2 cards & 2 curry combs cost 50 cents. Shellman off
to Sharpsg drunk Will has been trifeling away the day at the clearing
Ned Jupe Enoch and Israel Fry in the Boat. done but a small Business
Harrises Boat sat out for George Town several Boats. passing on the
River full

17th Saturday. Weather morning
cloudy and storming. Snowing and
raining very unpleasant. Murf and Will hauled one load wood from the

clearing Martin Shellman called not sober. Nicholas called Shelled and
got one Bushel corn which he said he would take to the mill to have
ground. gave him a note to Doct. Parran stateing how Mrs. Magill got
on to Hagers Town Franklin called. Spoake of Boating wood down the
canal. Murf and Will brought up 10 Bushel Clover seed deposited in
office up stares. Negroe George Called paid him $2.00. The River
continues to swell and It continues to Rain and snow. Archey Knode
12
arrived this afternoon supped with us. then went down and lodged at
Franklins left his uncle Johns horse here has continued to storm nearly
all day. Ned Jupe Enoch and Israel Fry in the Boat. light Business -

18th Sunday. Weather
has been raining hailing and snowing most of the
past night. the snow this morning 3 inches deep and continues untill
9 Oclock to come down the River fery full Arch Knode left about 9
Oclock gone to Sharpsg intends to Pleasant Valley then to Balto &
Phila. Franklin came up in the evening for hands to take George
Reynolds and Scott Keneday over the River
13 which is very high no
return of this day nothing done

19th Monday. Weather clear and
calm the whole country covered with
snow. Nicholas called got a hoggjole and cabage and a bag to carry it in.
Mrs. Nafe came down after Breckfast. Will & Murf threshing Rye
Enoch shelling a grist corn. the river is falling off. len[d] the cart to
Mrs. Elgen to haul some sand. Enoch cleared the sod from the Roots of
the peach trees and Transplanted 3 in the Backyard. The Boat has made
2 Trips Ned Jupe and Israel Fry. Ned Brought me 75 cents for the
last two days receipts. poor poor poor

20th Tuesday. Weather clear and
calm in the morning Will Murf and
Enoch sowing clover seed in the lower field Licklider the sadler sent a
Boy with an order for the amt. which I owe him. The boy is Thos.
Thornburghs son. says his father has been dead three weeks. Franklin
came with his doubled barreled gun. has been after pigeons which are
very plenty flying in all directions. F wants the team to haul him some
wood. took it and hauled a load. then Murf & Will hauled 2 loads. They
report that they have sown 2 Bushels clover seed this day on the lower
field and 3/4 of a B sowed on the 13th Janes Elgen called to advise about
his appeal case. Trimed and dressed up some trees. Franklin rode out
to Corbans. J. Ks wife rode up and spent a short time Elizabeth spent
part of the afternoon and supped with us. Philip Fleming called paid

12. Another of
Mrs. Blackford's numerous relatives who were so much in
evidence at Ferry Hill.

13. Since the
Ferry did not make regular runs at night Franklin had to go
to the main plantation house to get men to make a special trip. Page 30

him $3.81 1/4 for wood cuting. Ned Jupe and Israel Fry in the Boat
which is 6 days he has worked in the Boat -

21st Wednesday. Weather morning some
clouds and very smoakey.
but moderate. hands sowing Timothy seed have sown a Bushel on the
Hill in front of the House Will and Murf went out to the clearing after
Breckfast Edward Morrison called pd. him on acct. of wood cuting
$6.50 Mr. Renners son brought a 50 cent note and exchanged Enoch
part of the day in the Boat went to Town Brot. my paper bought a ball
Candle wick cotton pd. 25 Cents. Mrs. Nafe sewing. Daph came out
after her miscariage.14
Franklin and Ashberry gone to Virga to shoot
Pigeons. The river continued to rise all day nothing done with the Boat
no return. Will and Martin sawing shingle timber. all hands cuting &
spliting wood Ned has made no return as nothing done

22nd Thursday. Weather. Smoakey
and moderate River very full not
passable with ferry Boat Will Murf and Enoch gone out to the clearing.
to sawing and Burning Brush. Mr. Morrison called to return a five
dollar note which I pd. his son who mistated the transaction by saying
I had only paid him 5 dollars when I paid him $6.50 I rode out to the
new ground and down to J. Ks he has exchanged his horse for a grey
mare he gave $10 Isaac Widows called wants money. lent my wagon to
Myers who is moveing to the farm S. M Hitt sold to Emert. left his
wagon at the river not being able to cross. Ned reports Israel 8 days
helping some days but little done. Ned returned this day $11.12 1/2
for the Recipts of the two last day for him Jupe & Israel

23rd Friday. Weather. morning.
fogy and damp Murf tryed the Roller
on the hill side is too wet quit after going a few rounds found the Horses
feet went to deep. he then went to the clearing where Will and Enoch
is. Franklin called wants hands to go in the ferry Boat to Bring his
horses from the other side the River very little lowered. I copyed
B. Herberts letter to Henry and sealed his; I rode out to the clearing
and to J. K. he has cut his hand badly. Frank. and his wife gone to
Sharpsg he brought my Torch light I wrote a letter to John Coburn;
Widows called wants money. William Morrison is not cuting. the
negroes, John Thomas and George Snavely sawing off logs. negroe Will
has nearly finished his wood cuting he ingaged to maul the Rail cuts
left by Philip Fleming & Co. and to cut out the balance of Isaac Widows
lott Ned Jupe and Israel Fry in the Boat made but one trip with the
Boat. one or two with the skiff.

24th Saturday. Weather cloudy
and smokey the wind sprang up about
10 Oclock. Nicholas came this morning. commenced spading in the
Garden. Will Murf and Enoch gone to the clearing. the River falling
very slow sent the letter written by Bushrod Herbert to the post office
and one I wrote to John Coburn Washington City stating I could not attend
to having any stone quarried for him. Isaac Widows called again
for money & says it is worth $25 to build the wall of the Celler to the
House in S. Town. Shellman called drunk again has been to Sheps
Town. Colo. Miller sent his man Nelson with an order. I sent him
one Bushel clover seed Franklin rode the Bay Colt. sent Murf to help
with the ferry Boat. they did not go with the Boat for Corban who
wanted to cross over. he returned home I rode out. Negros Will Grove
has finished has cut he says 18 1/2 cord wood and mauled 550 Rails Ned
Jupe and Israel Fry attending the Boat -

25th Sunday. Weather morning
clear calm and pleasant. the River has
risen during the night continues stationary during the day. Helena
& Wm walked down to J. Ks his wife came up in
the afternoon with
Helena. I walked down through the fields sown with wheat which does
not look so promising as I expected It is uneven and much cokle
15 One
of the lambs has lost both its hind legs. J. K came and him and his
wife supped with us. gave Julsom 2 new strong muslin shirts.. River
falling a little this evening Nothing done at the Ferry no return. -
Will skulking about all day. the family has been quiet nothing worth
note has occured

26th Monday. Weather clear
and pleasant. had Enoch to plant some
small locusts in the pit and one apple tree. Will and Murf in the clearing.
The River is falling. George Reynolds and his son crossed from
the other side going up to Hancock. Nicholas working in the garden. I
have Trimed several peach trees had Enoch ingaged all day taking up
sprouts Hon Jacob F. Grove16
called spent a short time The Ferry Boat
has made several trips in the course of the day Ned Jupe & Israel Fry
in the Boat. done but a poor Business -

27th Tuesday. Weather fine and pleasant.
I rode in the Gig with Mrs.
B. to Sharpsg spent the day and dined at Colo. Miller. I rode to the
Mill. Briser says on Saturday I can have the 8 Bbls flour for Bread.
Bot. articles in the store to amt. of $2.62 1/2 and returned home in the

15. Cockle - an annual
weed that tends to choke out wheat or other grain.

16. Jacob Grove a
Democratic member of the Maryland legislature. In 1843 he
headed a legislative committee that investigated and reported on the fraudulent and
illegal action of the Farmers and Millers Bank of Hagerstown which resulted in
the revocation of the Bank's charter. This Bank had been the one with which
Blackford did business. Page 32

evening. Saw Hoffman the hoggspeyor who is to come on the 5th of
Aprile to spey my piggs. Franklin had the wagon & Team to haul two
loads wood Will and Murf working in the new ground. Enoch took to
the mill corn and Buckwheat. Helena went to Shepherds Town. spent
some short time and returned. Colo. Miller son David is in Bed sick
as is likewise his little daughter Ann. Mr. Mackey is complaining talks
of seting out to the west in the course of a week or ten days. Nicholas
in the garden which is the 3d day. Ned Jupe and Israel Fry in the
Boat which is 12 days for Israel in the Boat this day has been prety good
Business. the river full

28th Wednesday. weather morning
cool damp and cloudy. Hannah,
Wills wife17 delivered
of a female child about 12 Oclock last night so reports
Mrs. Fry who delivered her. Nicholas came to work in the garden
and Martin went to the Barn to makeing straw faggots for the Ice
House roof Myres the man who borowed my wagon crossed over at
Harpers ferry Bridge and returned this way. let him the wagon for
another Trip. Mrs. Berry & Mrs. Juett called Spent the afternoon and
supped with us. Martin Shellman patched the roof of the Ice House
an old German woman and a man she called her son called Beging gave
them 12 1/2. a young man with Books to sell called. Murf & Will in the
new ground at work Enoch took Buck wheat to the Mill and brought
a Bag Corn meal home then hauled a few cart loads manure in the
garden Ned Jupe & Israel Fry in the Boat small business

29th Thursday. Weather. clear and
pleasant with some wind. my throat
is some better. John Smith the sadler called I paid the balance of his
account $24.67 1/2 and took his receipt on the account. Franklin called
lent him my mare to ride to Palmers sale, Enoch took to the mill 7
Bushels Rye & 8 Busls oats to have chopped. Nicholas is working in the
garden planing potatoes. have taken some from the holes Mrs. Fry
called setled and paid her for Israels working in the Boat 15 days and his
cuting wood and her own services as midwife amounting in all to
$12.87 1/2 Will and Murf in the new ground. a letter from Henry to
Helena, recd my Patriot of the 26 & 27. The River has fallen off considerably.
a very considerable Breach in the Canal. The Viaduct below
the Iron works18 has given
way and all fell in. Ned Jupe and Israel Fry
and Enoch part of the day in the Boat. Small business

30th Friday. Weather partially cloudy
was frost last night Murf &
Will cuting out in the new ground. Nicholas working in the Garden.
Frann rode up Fo ts poney and then rode him to Sharpsburgh Martin

17. Hannah and
Will were slaves.

called says he has finished spliting out the shingle timber. he then said
he would cut some wood for Franklin Capt. Ashberry brought my
Torchlight from Sharpsg Josiah Smith and Jennett and child arrived a
short time before sunset. C. K. & Helena was over and spent the afternoon
in Sherpherds Town Enoch brought from the mill 7 B. Chop Rye
and 8 Bushels oats. Ned Jupe & Israel Fry in the Boat. have done a
prety good Business -

31st Saturday. Weather morning
cloudy and threatens to Rain. I had
reather a bad nights rest with sore throat. Took a doace sedlitz before
Breckfast. Mr Elgen & Rogers called. disuaded them from taking
Rogers deposition, gave Rogers my acct. against the Company am't.
$24.29. Elgen & Franklin gone on to the Hagers Town in the Gig.
Negroe Will called paid him $12.25 for cuting wood & Mauling Rails
Murf has gone with Mrs. Frys goods in the wagon to Sharpsg, took bags
to bring off fall from Mummas mill with 8 Bbls flour for Bread. Josiah
Smith and Jennett sat out for home at 1/2 after two Oclock Mrs. Perry
called dined with us sent a note by her to M. J. Brown Corban passed on
with his stud horse to Sharpsg Miss Henrys Juett & Hunter called.
Corban called returning did not leave his horse in Sharpsg. Elizabeth
spent the afternoon and dined with us. Corban reports Murfey drunk in
Sharpsburg sent Will after him came home brought 8 Bbls flour and 113
2 w off fall. 1 Bbl of the flour store and flour lost considerable. Negroe
George called. Mrs. Frys son in law called promised to move him on
Tuesday is to pay $3.50 Ned Jupe & Enoch in the Boat a good
Business

April 1838

1st Sunday. Weather. calm and
moderate The river has come down.
The canal has been out of use the last two weeks in consequence of
Breaches My Throat continues sore. I took last night going to bed 3
Brandreths pills which opperated fine this morning. sickened me some
little had the cramp violently through the night took 3 more this morning
which opperates this afternoon, became cloudy arose in the west.
Thundered all along from west to the N. east, came on to rain about 12
Oclock & continued two hours moderately. C. K and Helena went over
to Church it is reported that the Breach in the canal which has been repairing,
gave way again last night. Franklin and Elgen returned last
night from Hagers Town and have sat out again this afternoon for that
place, a large flock of stock sheep crossed the ferry to Virginia, negroe
Jim Clowson called is full of news. Ned Jupe & Enoch in the Boat done
a good Business. crossed 320 sheep
1

2nd Monday. Weather clear
and pleasant Will and Murf gone to the
clearing. Doct. Quigley called directly after Breckfast. gave him a check
on the Hagers Town Bank for $348.50 being in full for Mrs. Swearingens
one half of the receipts of the ferry for the last year
2 Recd. a letter by
mail from John Coburn Washington on the subject of quarying
stone. a man called whos name is Solomon Boyer lives in Sharpsg wants
shingles to make says he lives with Mrs. Smith the weather has changed
cooler this afternoon. Mr. Bemis two little daughters came over and
spent the night. The wind being too high for them to cross the river.
I took 4 pills in the morning which opperated partially considerable Bile
my Throat is still sore and I am not well. Ned Jupe and Enoch in the

1.
Maryland and Virginia were important sheep growing states. In addition
to this herd of 320 Blackford's Ferry on another occasion carried over a herd
of 500 sheep. Blackford himself raised sheep and at his death left about 100,
including both Saxon and Merino breeds.

2.
Mrs. Swearingen collected through Doctor John Quigley her agent one half
of the take of the Ferry after all expenses were paid for her one half interest in the
Ferry. Hence the net earnings of the Ferry for 1837 was $696.00. Blackford
bought Mrs. Swearingen's interest in 1838. Page 35

Boat have done a tolerable good Business understand Elizabeth is not
well has a fever

3rd Tuesday. Weather cool
with wind A frost last night negroe Will
Grove called to return some of the money I paid him. Martin called
said for his axe is going down to finish Millers shingles. Will has gone
to help Nicholas saw up a large popler in the new ground Murf has
crossed over with the team and brought over Mrs. Frys son in laws goods
and family.3
came on this side the river and went on to Sharpsg 1/2
after 9 oclock. the man pd. me $3.50 I sent by Israel for 2 Boxes pills
50 cents. he is to return with Murf for a load wood for his mother.
Henry Licklider called to speak about the sawing he has done for me, is
to let me know the number of logs which remain at the mill and make a
Bill of what pailings etc. which he sawed. Murf & Israel retd. 1/2 after
12 Oclock fed his horses preparitory to takeing in a load wood to Mrs.
Fry. Isaac Widows called. I paid him $3 he reports 26 cord wood
that he has cut. Murf has taken Mrs. Fry a load wood. returned after
sun set. Ned Jupe and Enoch in the Boat. done but a poor Business.

4th Wednesday. Weather. calm
but cool. white frost last night. my
health is still bad. took this morning 6 of Brandreths pills which is 20
I have taken within the last four days. Will and Murf hauling off the
Gum from the new ground. Enoch hauled 3 loads chips and wood with
ox cart. Helena has spent part of this day in S. Town Franklin went
over he reports Welches family to have gone off after nearly destroying
the house.4 Mrs.
Perry is about to reenter the breach in the canal
mended, filling the level this afternoon Nicholas called and got a Bushel
corn says he has been splitting the popler tree that Will assisted him to
saw. I understand that Colo. Miller sat out for Balto Ned & Jupe
in the Boat. have done a tolerable Business. my throat grows worse in
the evening. the pills have opperated well, much Bile

5th Thursday. Weather. Clear
morning cool Will Murf and Enoch out
in new ground. Miss Elenora Miller & Ann Hays came. Mrs. Eaton
& her little grandson Robt. Quigley came. my throat is still sore, I have
taken 6 more of Brandreths pills. Mrs. Henry, Hunter and Mrs. Webb
called spent a short time and returned James Sheperd sent a note by his
son requesting $30 which I sent him. Miss Sarah Morgan, Miss Kerney
& Miss Baylor called and spent the evening Miss Morgan presented a

3. This was
Philip Fleming or Flemon who had been working as a laborer on
Ferry Hill Plantation. He was moving into the Stone Cottage which Mrs. Fry
had earlier rented from Blackford.

4. Patrick
Welch, who rented one of Blackford's houses in Shepherdstown
was an unsatisfactory tenant. Blackford earlier had had difficulty in collecting
the rent from Welch. Page 36

subscription paper to rise money for Mr. Hargrave,
5 I did not subscribe.
Hoffman called he speyed 10 sow piggs and cut several pd. him
62 1/2 Franklin assisted him directed him to call at J. K.s Mrs. Eaton
and Little Bob remained all night Ned & Jupe in the Boat. tolerable
Bus. Recd a letter from Henry dated the 4th Jnon Henry

6th Friday. Weather smoky and
moderate. I am quite indisposed in
bed moast of the day eat but little and have taken no pills. Mrs. Eaton's
step son William Eaton came in the stage. She met him at the river
brought him up remained untill after dinner when they crossed the river
to S. Town Will Murf & Enoch out in the new ground. a number of
Boats passing up and down the canal Franklin asked for my mare to
ride. Doct. Parran had some difficulty with horse & Gig near the Barn
his wife with him returned after sun set. I wrote Henry in answer to his
of the 4th stating I would send for him the 12 or 13 Inst. Ned & Julian
in the Boat. done but a moderate Business considerable stir about the
Canal. Boats getting off & on

7th Saturday. Weather very dark
and smoky. damp cool atmosphere
weather unpleasant Will Murf and Enoch in the clearing. Sent Isaiah
to S. Town. Bot. Coffee & Tea pd. 87 1/2 brought my paper of the
4th & 5th my health is much imparied my throat continues to be sore
and inflamed have remained in the office all day. the cat Injured the
Canary bird Recd a note from Doct. Parrans lady requesting my
carriage to bring his sister Mrs. Magill from Hagers Town tomorrow
Ned and Jupe in the Boat a tolerable business

8th Sunday. Weather damp dark
cloudy and has rained considerable
during the past night and has continued by intervals through the day.
The family remained at home and within Doores all the day. Ned has
made no return as little or nothing done

9th Monday. Weather. morning.
tolerably clear with some wind. Doct.
Parrans black man called. took the carriage & harness sat out for Hagers
Town for Mrs. Magill. Franklin called says he is bound for Boonsborough.
The little Roan mare had a mare colt in the stable last night of
a Bay colour Black main & Tail. hind feet white. The near one about
the fetlock a small star and strip. an old negroe called to return a dollar
note pd. to him for Broom makeing. he brought up my papers. Catherine
& Mary Miller came after dinner. George Cookur called gave him some
old Bacon for Michail to make serum for his horse. asked him to speak
to young Gonter rough carpenter to come and work for me. Elizabeth

5. Hargrave
was a Presbyterian minister in Shepherdstown to whose church
Blackford had earlier contributed. Page 37

and baby came and spent the evening with the girls C. K. in Bed Sick all
day. Wind has risen since morning. the Miss Millers rode home in the
evening. Doct. Parrans sister arrived in the Carriage, crossed over so
states Ned. Detrick and Robison at Ferry Horse drunk have been fishing
at the mill dam. Ned and Jupe in the Boat. a tolerable Business.
wind high.

10th Tuesday. Weather morning.
Windy & cool. Franklin wants the
cart to haul Bacon from D. Pipers. Nicholas working in the garden.
Frank. brought my Torch light. the little german Boy called handed
Hanns acct. for 2 days of himself and Boy splitting locust posts. stated
$4 when he did this work which was 2d September last. he then said
expressly that his charge was $2 for the 2 days. The River has risen
some little Will Murf & Enoch working in new ground. they report
they are hauling off the saw logs. Ned & Jupe in the Boat. done but a
small business. -

11th Wednesday. Weather.
Variable morning cool with some wind.
Doct. Parrans man brought over my carriage this morning. Will and
Murf in new ground with the wagon Enoch hauling some manure on the
Garden with the cart. Nicholas in the garden at work. I rode out to
the new ground. Morrison is spliting Rails. went down to J. Ks Martin
makeing shingles dined there with a Englishman & his wife named
Anthony. The wind has increased since morning. Franklin called to
say he wanted go for Henry

12th Thursday. Weather. Clear.
morning cold frost last night. Henry
Knode here all night. Franklin sat out for Henry gave him $85 and a
check for $75 which is for Mr. Johns wrote to J I Merrick and a letter
to Henry. Nicholas in the Garden. Henry Knode sat off for home after
Breckfast. William has taken two ducks and a Drake down to J. Ks
Martin called pd. him 50 cents. gone to S. Town to purchase Tobacco.
J. Knode has been successful Catching fish sent up 20 by Wm and
Isaiah a Boat Brought fresh Herrings. Ned bought a doz pd. 12 1/2.
Will Murf and Enoch hauling the cord wood off the clearing. they report
Morrison cutting Ned and Jupe in the Boat small business

6.
Thomas G. Harris operated a line of pocket boats on the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal. Page 38

Cord. C. K and Helena gone on the poneys to Sharpsg. Pd. C. K. $3
Rent for her store which in the possesion and use of Mrs. Drusila
Williams William & Isiah went with them to ride the poneys home a
Boat has arrived and discharging on the Virga shore Franklin and Henry
arrived about sunset from Mercersburgh came by the way of Williamsport
Wm. came with them from Sharpsburgh. Ned & Jupe in the Boat
have done a tolerable Business -

14th Saturday. Weather. Clear. some
little wind. Martin Shellman &
Nicholas both called - booth are for a sprey gave Nicholas $2.75 and
Martin $1 which will keep them drunk for some time. setted Henrys
school Expense find the session has cost $100. Franklin says he deld.
my letter to Mr. Merrick. his Expences to Mercersburgh and back
$3.62 1/2. he traded off his sorrel Horse for a brown to a droover. gave
$35 in boot. Henry rode to Sharpsg Corbans Daughter Abigail came
this afternoon Jackson her brother brought her to the River Henry returned
from Sharpsg. C. K. & Helena remains there a Three day meeting
in Hoffmires congregation Hargrave and Douglass assisting him.
7
The canal appears to be in the full use at present to Williamsport The
weather continues cold windy rough unpleasant. Ned and Jupe in the
Boat have done but a midling Business this week. dull dull times. bad
Currency. nothing but shin plasters

15th Sunday. Weather the
morning cloudy cold wind and snow at 10
Oclock - Henry Rode my mare and led the Bald poney to Sharpsburgh
for his sister to ride home. It has continued to snow from 10 Oclock
untill 4 in the evening with but little Intermission snow 3 or 4 inches
deep - Corbans son Jackson came a little after it commenced to snow.
him and his sister Abigail remained shet up with us in the house all day
Henry returned from Sharpsbg after 9 Oclock we had retired to bed he
states that he came by J Ks with Catherine J Ks wife where he spent
the evening. C K & Helena remains in Sharpsg. Ned made no return
as there was nothing done

16th Monday. Weather cloudy.
The whole face of the country covered
with snow and the Trees loaded with snow has all the appearance of
Winter except the Blossoms of the Peach tree is peeping through the
snow that hangs to the limbs. J. K called says he has ingaged 4 tons
plaster8 from
Jacob Reynolds, he is to attend to getting it brought over
- Franklin gone to Sharpsbg. the snow is disappearing very slowly.

7.
Hoffmier was a German Reformed minister, Hargrave a Presbyterian, and
Douglass a Presbyterian. Evidently this was an inter-denominational revival
meeting.

8.
This was lime plaster to be used as a fertilizer on hay and grain crops. Page 39

there fell a similar snow on the 23d of Aprile last, reather more it being
5 inches deep. Corbans son & Daughter Abigail here Franklins Boat
has gone up to Harrises landing to take in wood.
9 Henry Jackson &
William moving about the hands Will Murf & Enoch doing very little
have pretended to clean out the stables. Murf drunk as usual. Beat
little John down at the ferry House Ned and Jupe in the Boat. C. K
and Helena in Sharpsburgh but little doing anyhow and anyway. Bad
weather

17th Tuesday. Weather Cloudy
windy cold & unpleasant Henry led a
horse to Sharpsg for his sister to Ride home he sat out to go to Costs
took my boots & shoes to have repaired. Abigail went down to Franklins
Henry & Helena returned home in the evening - Will Murf and
Enoch hauling off wood from the clearing. progressing very slow.
Abigail came up in the evening. Shortts Boat off. J. K. called says he
has ingaged and it is to be ready tomorrow 4 ton plaster from Jacob
Reynolds at $9.75 per Ton. had my old Bags mended. the snow has
nearly all disappeared. Ned and Julious in the Boat. a poor very poor
Business -

18th Wednesday. Weather cloudy.
smokey. heavy is more moderate.
Franklins Boat sat out this morning. Nicholas called for one Bushel
Corn directed him to come tomorrow and help with the wood Stage
crossed 1/2 after 10 oclock 3 passengers. The hands hauling off wood.
commenced Raining in the afternoon which drove the hands in they then
went to Threshing Rye Franklin returned he went with the Boat as far
as Harpers ferry. It cleared off about sun set a beautiful Rain Bow. J
K did not go for the plaster in consequence of the Rain. I bled the Bald
poney Shellman swanking about not doing any thing I spent the day in
the House unpleasant weather to be out. Corbans daughter Abigail
here - Ned and Julious in the Boat light Business Enoch Brought a
Bag corn meal from the mill. I received my Baltimore Patroit.

19th Thursday. Weather Cloudy
Cold windy unpleasant Nicholas came
is working him and Will in the clearing. Murf untill breckfast he then
went over to Reynolds mill for Plaster Henry & Helena Rode to Sharpsburgh.
Franklin came up and bled his brown horse. J. Knode brought a
Ton plaster from Reynolds which is for the use of the lower farm; he is
to pay for the one half. Henry & Helena returned from Sharpsg.
Helena took up goods on credit to amt. of $23.53 -
The River has
risen quite rapidly and to a considerable height. Murf brought over

9. Franklin
Blackford, Captain Ashberry, and James Elgen had recently formed
a company to operate a line of packet boats on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
and were using Thomas G. Harris' boat landing. Page 40

from George Reynolds mill 3 ton plaster at two trips. a Bill sent but no
price affixed. the understanding with J K was at the price W. Shortt
sold which is $9.75 per Ton Ned & Jupe in the Boat. Poor Business

20th Friday. Weather very Cold.
Ice made last night on the Tubs of
Rain water 3/8 of an Inch the ground froze. - Nicholas cuting wood in the
clearing. Will & Murf hauling off wood. Henry & his mother sat out
for Boonsboro, she in the gig & Henry on horse back. Staleys Boat
satout for G. Town, a sprinkle of snow after 12 oclock
and several during
the afternoon Corban sent his horse over yeasterday. Franklin had
him shown in Sharpsg. this day. he brought my paper, very cold unpleasant.
Corbans son Jackson arrived after sun set Murf brought
Franklin one load wood Will Brought the ox cart load wood home at
night. I remained in the office all day - Ned and Julious in the Boat
have done but a small Business. Cold weather.

21st Saturday. Weather clear and
some little moderated. tho the last
night froze the ground and made smart Ice. Nicholas came cutting
wood in the clearing, Will and Murf hauling off wood G. Unseld called.
left me his account which I promised to Examine and make out his acct.
from my Books. he spent two hours in conversation in my office.
Reynolds large Boat The Henry Boteler passed through the Lock going
down. Mrs. B. and Henry returned from Boonsbo five oclock. report
that all are well. that Mrs. Huit, Gerard Stonebrakers daughter died
last night. Nicholas worked half this day William Morrison splitting
Rails. Mrs. B. bought goods to amt. of $39.37 1/2 pd on acct.
$15. - Ned
& Jupe in the Boat

22nd Sunday. Weather clear
calm and more moderate - Jackson and his
sister Abigail set out for home after Breckfast. wrote to Corban requesting
him to speak to Hutichinson the carpenter to come and work for me.
J. K. and David Miller called. David took dinner with us - the wind
sprang up after 12 Oclock and blew for some time J. K his wife Elizabeth
her little sister Miss Hedrick & D. Miller all dined with us. Helena
J. Ks wife & Elizabeth was over at Mr. Douglas preaching. Harrises
Boat Henry Clay arrived this afternoon. Negroe Will absent without
parmetion. Murf as usual down at the ferry and prety drunk. came
up at dark to water the Horses. Franklin off to Harpers ferry to meet
the Boat which J. Elgen is conducting. Helena remained all night with
Elizabeth. Ned & Jupe in the Boat but little done. the day has been
warm

23rd Monday. Weather.
Moderated somewhat hazey pleasantly warm.
Nicholas came to work in the clearing Will & Murf hauling off wood

with Wagon & Cart. Mrs. Nafe came sat in to sewing. Mary, Elen and
Ann Miller came Ann Hays with them Crossed over to S. Town.
Helena with them. Martin ground his drawing knife he is shaveing
shingles - boarding at J Ks. I have been engaged all this morning cleaning
my gun the Girls returned from S Town. Helena Brought me from
Mr. Webb $15 which I am to send him Virginia Shin plasters in exchange -
I rode out to new ground Isaiah sat the peoples victuals down
and the hoggs destroyed it I whiped him for his conduct. M Kirk came
wants timber he gave me a list of what he wants. It commenced raining
while I was out. Henry has been to Sharpg to have some cloaths cut
out. continued raining untill night which prevented the Miss Millers &
Hays from returning home they remained all night. James Elgen returned
this evening Ned & Jupe in the Boat. small business

24th Tuesday.
Weather morning raining.
Nicholas called and I settled
with him. he fel in debt $3.82. I credited him with
$3 as a present he
supposing I had omitted to credit which I discover I did not omit. I pd.
him $2 to purchase meat. he is in my debt including this date $2.82.
Briens man Peter brought a note wants timber for hammer helve. says
he can get one on the Shepherd farm, desired him to say to Mr. Brien
I could let him have Gum timber.
10 Mary & Ann Miller & An Hays
went home after dinner Henry went with them. Doct. O. Wharton
called to say Barns has returned and begs father Indulgance untill 15
July. I told him I must see Merrick before I would promise any thing
Morrison called says he has finished cuting & mauling and will now
work by the day. Mrs. Nafe sewing. Elenora Miller here Will Murf
and Enoch have been pidling about the Barn threshing some Rye Ned
and Jupe in the Boat little done

25th Wednesday. Weather cloudy
and has rained during the last night.
Franklin called to say he wished to open the quary of cement stone
down near the spring on the Sherpherd Farm Hann sent his son with an
account of $4 which I would not pay; Will fixing and covering the Ice
and Ice house Henry gone to Sharpsburgh. Franklin states that Edmond
I. Lee has $23.39 for me which he recovered
from D. Entler - Will
Murf & Enoch threshing Rye Will hauled two ox cart loads wood,
Henry returned from Sharpsg sent him to S. Town with $15 to Mr.
Webb in small notes for that amount he sent me in two notes by Helena
he likewise had a letter which I wrote to Mr. Berry and an order to Mr.
Lee which order he left with Webb to present it being night and Mr.
Lee not at his office. Henry lodged at the ferry house Mr. Elgen
was with him to S. Town Ned & Jupe in the Boat bought 1 dox

10.
The timber was to be used at John M. Brinn's shops at the Antietam Iron
Works. Page 42

Herring & 2 Shad paid 37 1/2 cents. have done a very poor business. Mr.
Briens people got the timber for the Hammer helve. Peter called I have
him a Bill $2.25

26th Thursday. Weather
continues cloudy and cool. the river has risen
during the last night. Henry came up from F. House where he lodged
last night Franklin applyed to me for roan mare to work to the Boat
which is off to take in Stone for Jacob Miller. J. K. called says some of
his sheep is missing suspects that dogs has been after them. he says
Morrison is in the clearing at work and was there yeasterday. Will
Murf & Enoch hauling off wood with wagon & ox cart. Mrs. Nafe
sewing. Ellen Miller here since Monday. Elizabeth came up wants
Butter or a horse to send for some. She has Miss Schnebley and Miss
Mayer. river continues to rise little John rode poney to Sharpsg Miss
Mayer & Schnebley crossed over the river. The River began to fall
in the afternoon. This is the day of Election
in Virginia for members
to the legislature. George Reynolds Bushrod Washington Whig candidates.
Wm. Lucas & Henry Bedinger Loco focos
Vanites11 Ned & Jupe
at the Boat. which did not cross. poor poor

27th Friday. Weather
has changed sun came out partially some windy
clouds. more moderate. The hands sowed some plaster for the first
this season on the clover in the middle field. Henry gone to Shep. Town
Layfitt Miller came for a Pea Hen. Henry returned brought D. Entlers
debt recovered by E. J. Lee amt. $22.39 he reports my Patriot paper not
came by this days mail and that report says the Whigs have succeeded
in Jefferson Cty Virga and in Baltimore.
Morrison cuting. Will &
Murf hauling off Cord wood. Helena & Ellen Miller rode my mare
down to J. Ks. I rode out to the clearing before dinner Henry off on
Franklins horse with B. Hedrick went to Sharpsg John Miller returned
home from Mercersburgh school. Morrison came to supper and lodged
here. Henry lodged in Sharpsg. Ned took shad for D. Staleys ferriages
Ned and Julious & Enoch in the Boat small receipts

28th Saturday. Weather.
Changeable. Will Murf Enoch & Morrison
sowed plaster. on the wheat on the hill side of lower field. They then
after breckfast went to the clearing. C. K. & Henry came from Sharpsg.
Elenora returned on the Horse - one of the young spotted sows has 7
piggs. the old sow died I recd. my Baltimore Patriot by this days mail
which confirms the report of the Whig success in electing John P.
Kenaday by a majority of 862 over Wm. H. Merriott, the Vanburen

11.
John Blackford, a Whig in politics, had extreme dislike for Martin Van
Buren; hence the name "Loco Focus Vanites" which he applied to the Democratic
candidates. Page 43

candidate12
Franklins Boat met with a disaster which is detaining her
a cloud arose in the west about 4 Oclock in the afternoon with rain
much thunder and lightning. the moast of it passed to the South. we had
a fine shower when I cleared before sunset. Henry reports Baker
Tapscots death Morrison quit and went home at 4 Oclock has worked
this week 3 1/2 days. Mrs. Nafe went home this evening. she has been
sewing all this week. This evening looks very cheering after a fine
Shower of Rain Ned Jupe & Enoch & Corbans man

29th Sunday. Weather the
early part of the morning calm and very
pleasant, when the wind sprang up at 9 Oclock, one other young spotted
sow has 6 piggs which is 13. the two was discovered where the small
negroe have cut and barked a small pear Tree and 2 Apple trees. J Ks
wife Elizabeth and George Knode all called. spent the afternoon and
suppd with us. G. K. spent the night. there has nothing occurred worth
note. Ned & Jupe in the Boat. light Business.

30th Monday. Weather.
Clear and cool. Morrison and Nicholas came
this morning went to sawing after Breckfast. Will hauling off wood
with ox cart Murf went to plowing the lot back of the House. J. K
came and plowed the Garden. Wm. Flanagen called wants to Borrow
money a thousand Dollars.13
to make a payment in June next. William
rode to Sharpsg had a Round about cut Brot. the Torch light. Nicholas
wife & child came up gave them dinner. George Knode left here at
2 Oclock. Henry sat out for step fathers & Corbans. I rode out to where
Morrison & Nicholas was sawing wood Will hauling off wood. rode to
Martin directed him to come up in the morning and help with potatoes.
J. K. finished the Garden some time before sun set. Franklin taken sick
sent for the Doctor some eruption of the skin chicken pox or something
of the kind. Helena went to S. Town in the afternoon. Baker Tapscott
was buryed yeasterday. The fruit trees are in Bloom and the
whole face of the country looks cheering. C. K. here. I received my
Baltimore Patriot in due time this day for the first time for several days
Ned and Jupe and Enoch in the Boat done but a poor Business. the
river prety full & muddy.

12.
John Pendleton Kennedy (1795-1870), the Whig candidate for Congress,
beat General William H. Marriott, the Democratic nominee, in a special
election
called to fill the unexpired term of Isaac McKim (1775-1838) who died April
1, 1838, by a vote of 7,019 to 6,157. See Niles'
Register, LIV (April 28, 1838),
129. Kennedy was defeated in his race for a full term but was elected and
served
from 1841 to 1845.

13.
Blackford ultimately lent Flanagen $1,000. He chose to lend money for
interest rather than invest all his surplus in land, slaves, and business
enterprises.
He did so despite the fact that he lost not only the interest but also
the principal
sum of one large loan. Page 44

May 1838

1st Tuesday. Weather Variable morning cool
with a large white frost.
at 10 Oclock It clouds over. Martin Shellman came to help away with
the potatoes. Morrison came from home this morning Nicholas did not
come. he was offended because his wife did not get lard yeasterday.
Will hauling off with ox cart Murf Plowing - planted corn and
punkins in the garden. . John little William & Catherine Miller came
and the two Miss Jameses from Virgia. Jno Miller, shoe makers son,
called with a shoe mending acct. balance due him $9.52
which I paid
him in full and took his receipt. Lewis Fletcher called with a Claim on
M. Shellman which I pd him $4.87 1/2 1
he has promised to send me a
carpenter from Boonsb. Jno Miller & Little Wm. went home after
dinner Catherine remained here. the Miss Jameses sat out for S. Town
and their home after supper. Henry returned from G. fathers & Corbans.
Martin & Enoch brought the Potatoes all from their place of
deposite in the Garden to the Shed spinning room supposed to be 50
Bushels a portion of them spoiled haveing not been sufficiently covered.
Ned Jupe & Enoch part of the day in the Boat; Franklin hauled down
some wood in the cart -

2nd Wednesday. Weather
morning Raining M. Shellman went off
to shaveing shingles Morrison & Enoch went out to sawing after Breckfast
Will went out with oxen to hauling off wood. Murf plowing in
the lot. next the lime Kiln I rode out and down to J Ks he is laying off
his corn ground. Catherine Miller Here. Henry went to S. Costs and
bought a pair of Boots. says they cost $5.50 Jno. Miller came home
with him. My Patriot paper did not come by this days mail Ned sick
and Julious attended the Boat but little done - Clouds up and rained in
the night -

3rd Thursday. Weather
changeable sat out after Breckfast with Henry
in the gig for Hagers Town. called in Boong dined at Doct. Smiths.

1.
John Blackford followed the practice of paying outstanding debts of his hired
workers and withholding from their wages for work done until the debt was
cancelled. Page 45

fed Horse at Brookharts arrived at Hagers Town in the evening.
Weather changed quite cool. Morrison in the clearing and Martin untill
dinner when he went to help J. K. plant corn. Will hauling off
wood Murf finished plowing the lot and harrowed it. Enoch in the
Boat with Jupe Ned complaining that he is not able to work little or
nothing done. I stoped at G. R. Bells tavern

4th Friday. Weather Raining
commenced in the night and continued
all day. Henry with a school fellow named Stonebraker sat out after
Breckfast in a hack for Mercersburgh. I remained all day in consequence
of the rain. little or nothing done at home as I am informed -

5th Saturday. Weather.
Continued to Rain all night I attended to
some little business; Mr. Merrick is absent from home at Balto; therefore
am disapointed in seeing him. saw and conversed with Mr. Price
respecting Barns. and his prospects; took out Tavern licence for
Franklin,2
settled some accounts which I had standing and sat out after
ten Oclock still raining came on Boonsborough, where I fed my Horse
and dined at Brookharts. spent a short time at Doct. Smiths who is
afflicted with rhumateasm came on home where I arrived before sunset
There has been little or nothing done by the hands Will butchered a
calf for Franklin Murf has been pretending to mend the wagon
Harness the River Riseing very rapidly it is expected from the great
fall of rain that it will be very high Ned grunting takeing gin little or
nothing done

6th Sunday. Weather windy
cool with flying wind Clouds. Murf
reports that the Bay Jack Horse was stolen from the stable last night. a
Blind Bridle taken. He went in pursuit as far as Sharpsburgh where he
heard some imperfect accounts that a horse was heard to pass through at
a late hour. The River has continued to rise and will from appearances
be very high. C. K. & Helena gone down to J.K.s Franklin has been
indeavoring to create a sympathetic feeling in his mother by stateing his
dificulties, etc etc3 -
The Horse Jack came home about one oclock without
a Bridle appears to have been rode being muddy Shellman called prety
drunk. no crossing the River

7th Monday. Weather changeable.
continues cool with moving Clouds.
The River falling. Franklin gone to Harpers Ferry. Murf laying off the
lot preparitory to planting it in corn, Will and Enoch in the clearing

2.
Franklin Blackford was adding a tavern to his business enterprises which
already included farming and a line of packet boats on the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal.

3.
Franklin Blackford was having marital difficulties with his wife which were
to grow worse with time. Page 46

Burning some Brush and hauling chips home. began to plant the lot with
white flint Hominy Corn and punkin seed. Jupe Daph Caroline and Isiah.
Franklin returned gave him his certificate of Licence and his change.
Enoch reports Morrison and his two sons came at 9 oclock this morning
and are cutting in the new ground. the little Roan mare Fancy was
put to a small sorrel stud Horse on Friday the 4th. the Horse was left
with Franklin by a man from Pensya said to be a flying childers.
4
Morrison and his son Edward went home after supper. the small one
called Alfred remained all night. Ned drove Franklins Gig with a man
to Boonsboro and returned after dark; there has been no crossing this
day did not finish planting the lot. the weather continues cool Shellman
cutting wood for Franklin

8th Tuesday. Weather
continues cool and cloudy. without rain - Morrison
came and went to work him and his little son; Will, Rakeing
up chips and Enoch hauling them. Murf Daph Caroline and Isaiah
went out to pulling up the old corn stalks after finishing planting the lot
and the hogg pen with punkings Mrs. Bowen called. Wm. Flanagan
called. wants money Cutwalt called. wants work in the smith shop
5 -
Franklin called with an order from M. Shellman for $26.33 and the
Black mens accounts which amounts to more than I owe them. Franklin
hauling wood with J Ks wagon and two of his horses. He says he
let the little flying childers to my brown mare Hannah. no return of this
days business.

9th Wednesday. Weather.
Morning cool. Morrison and his little son
Alfred slept here last night and went out to work in the clearing. Will
and Enoch hauling off with the ox cart Murf Daph and Isaiah puling
up corn stalks. Enoch hauling them off Morrison & little son quit at
4 Oclock having been taken sick. I rode to Thomases sale where I spent
3 hours eat my dinner bought nothing. returned home called in
Sharpsburgh. Bot. 3w nails & a knife pd for them 36 1/2¢
Murf commenced
plowing after Breckfast in the pond field. Helena says Ned
was at 12 Oclock quite much intoxicated. He came up after darke was
in a tolerable sober state him and Jupe in the Boat Selbeys land sold to
Doct. Bedinger at 45 Dollars Frank heard of Bushrods Washingtons
hous being hurt last night. caught from sparks falling on the Roof the

4. The
Blackfords raised most of their livestock including horses, cattle, sheep,
and hogs. They kept their own breeding stock and only occasionally used stallions
or bulls belonging to their neighbors. The Flying Childers was a popular breed
of farm horses descended from a Stallion foaled in 1750 and considered the first
great thoroughbreds.

5.
Blackford had a blacksmith shop on Ferry Hill plantation in which Cutwalt
sought work; but Blackford had considerable work, especially horse shoeing and
carriage repairing, done at shops in Shepherdstown and Boonsboro. Page 47

Chimney caught on fire which produced the sparks that communicated to
the Roof